Patient Monitor vs Vital Sign Monitor: What is the Difference?

Patient monitors and vital sign monitors are both devices used in hospitals and other clinical settings to measure various health parameters of patients. However, there are some distinct differences between the two types of monitors. In this buying guide, we will discuss the key features of patient monitors and vital sign monitors.

What is a Patient Monitor?

A patient monitor, otherwise known as a Multi-Parameter Monitor, is a device that measures and displays physiologic data, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, temperature, and blood oxygen saturation. Some can also track End-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), Cardiac output, Anesthetic agents, Invasive blood pressure, etc.

They're primarily utilized in locations where patients require continuous monitoring on one screen without the constant presence of the clinician at the bedside. While a patient is under anesthesia, the multi-parameter patient monitor will measure basic vital signs, heart rhythms, and other physiological variables.

In recent years, technological advances have led to the development of portable patient monitors worn on the body or attached to clothing. These devices allow patients to move around freely while still being monitored.

Where is a Patient Monitor Used?

Patient monitors are used in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices. They are often used in critical care situations, such as during anesthesia, surgery, or in the intensive care unit. In these situations, patient monitors can provide life-saving information by alerting medical staff to changes in a patient's condition.

For example, if a patient's heart rate suddenly drops, the monitor can alert the nurses so that they can take action to stabilize the patient. Patient monitors can also be used in less critical situations, such as when a patient is discharged from the hospital. In this case, the monitor can help to ensure that the patient is stable enough to go home.

What Does a Patient Monitor do?

A patient monitor helps medical staff track a patient's health parameters. The most commonly monitored parameters are heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, blood pressure, and respiration rate.

What Do You Need to Know About Patient Monitor?

You should know the following about a patient monitor:

Technical Parameters

At its most basic, a patient monitor will measure and track at least 5 medical parameters, i.e., ECG, RESP, SpO₂, NIBP, PR, and TEMP. Most monitors will also display a numerical readout of these values and waveforms.

The parameters are generally shown on a high-resolution LED display backlight with a touch screen.

A patient monitor usually includes alarm indicators to provide various alarm tones and visible alarm light indicators for different problems.

In a power outage, some monitors can run on batteries, and having batteries that can last for at least 3 hours is a common feature of most patient monitors.

In addition to their vital role in collecting and displaying patient data, patient monitors may also have connection, storage, and printing capabilities. This allows for easy information sharing between healthcare providers and shift changes. Additionally, it allows for a complete view of a patient's condition over time, as data can be stored and reviewed as needed. Printing capabilities also come in handy when creating a hard copy of a patient's medical history or sharing information with other providers.

Price Range

The factors that affect the price range of a patient monitor are its manufacturer brand, connectivity features, configurations, and additional parameters.

There's a wide range in the prices of patient monitors. The average price of a patient monitor is $4,000, but that number is affected by several factors. A significant factor is the manufacturer's brand. Some brands, such as Welch Allyn, and GE Healthcare, will be more expensive than lesser-known brands. In addition, connectivity features, configurations, and the ability of the patient monitor to track additional parameters all play a role in setting the price.

The price tag on a patient monitor is just one factor to consider when making a purchasing decision. It's essential to also look at the quality of the product, the company's customer service and warranty, and how the product will fit into your existing workflow.

Reference of Prices

The pricing of patient monitors varies, but it is mainly determined by the manufacturer and the features of the equipment. Some are as follows:

• Welch Allyn 6200 Series: $1990
• GE CARESCAPE B40 Patient Monitor: $4295
• Venus Critical Care Patient Monitor: $1,801
• Q7 Modular ICU Patient Monitor: $3000

What is a Vital Sign Monitor?

A vital signs monitor is a machine that helps to track and record a patient's vital signs. The vital signs monitored are heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Many modern monitors can keep and retain tons of data. Many portable types have a touch screen, a handle, and a backup battery source.

Where is it Used?

While they are often found in hospitals and clinics, vital signs monitors can be used in other settings, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and even in people's homes.

Vital signs monitor can also be used in emergency units where an immediate assessment of a patient's vital signs needs to be made.

What Does it do?

The machine gives doctors a quick and easy way to see how a patient is doing and whether their condition is improving, deteriorating, or staying the same. It can also help doctors spot any potential problems early to provide the best care.

What do You Need to Know About Vital Sign Monitor?

You should know the following about a vital signs monitor:

Technical Parameter

Vital sign monitors measure and displays vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature. They typically have a large digital LED color display, printing capability, and EMR connectivity. Some also monitor oxygen saturation levels. Vital sign monitors usually come with alarms to notify caregivers of changes in patient vital signs.

Some monitors are AC/DC, i.e., they can be plugged into an outlet, but most also incorporate battery usage.

Additionally, vital signs monitors have data storage capabilities, allowing clinicians to review past readings.

Prices Range

There are many types of vital signs monitors on the market, and their prices can vary widely depending on their brand, features, and configuration.

For example, The expense of Welch Allyn vital signs monitors varies from less than $700 for a Welch Allyn Connex ProBP 3400 Digital Blood Pressure Device to more than $2,100 for the Welch Allyn Connex Spot Vital Signs Monitor 7100 unit.

As a buyer, determine what vital sign monitor would have the features to be the best investment for your practice/facility.

For example, a small clinic might not necessarily need a high-end stationary machine as much as a big hospital would need all the bells and whistles that a portable monitor can't provide.

Reference of Prices

The pricing of vital signs monitors varies, but it is mostly determined by the manufacturer and equipment features. Some are as follows:

• GE CARESCAPE VC150 Vital Signs Monitor: $ 2,695
• Welch Allyn Inc. 65NTXX 6500 Vital Signs Monitor Connex: $793.87
• CardioTech GT-900 Vital Signs Monitor: $1295
• LCX-PM80B Vital Signs Monitor

What Is The Difference Between a Vital Sign Monitor And a Patient Monitor?

Parameters

Patient monitors always have more parameters than vital signs monitors.

Patient monitors can track heart rate, respiratory rate, non-invasive blood pressure, body temperature, and blood oxygen saturation levels. More advanced ones can even track more, including end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), cardiac output, anesthetic agents, bispectral index, impedance, and invasive blood pressure.

Vital signs monitor only measure a few key parameters: heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

While these are important indicators of a patient's health, they don't give as complete a picture as a patient monitor.

Price

In general, vital sign monitors are less expensive than patient monitors. This price difference is because vital sign monitors don't have all the features of a patient monitor.

So, when choosing between a vital sign monitor and a patient monitor, you must consider your needs. A patient monitor is the better choice if you need a complete picture of your patient's health. However, a vital sign monitor will suffice if you're on a budget or only need basic information.

Applications

Vital signs monitors and patient monitors are typically used in similar settings. However, vital signs monitors are often more helpful in instances where only the fundamental human vital signs need to be checked for the prompt delivery of health services.

An ambulance, for example, would concentrate on emergency care and thus lack the equipment to conduct more comprehensive tests like pulse oximetry. Still, it will take each patient's pulse and breathing rate to determine the optimum approach to assist the short-term transportation of the patient to the hospital.

Conclusion

As healthcare costs continue to rise, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are under increasing pressure to find ways to control expenses. One area where significant savings can be achieved is purchasing medical equipment and supplies.

Medwish is the leading provider of wholesale medical supplies to healthcare institutions. They provide a wide range of products, including vital signs monitors, patient monitors, and other medical equipment.

Medwish offers a variety of benefits to healthcare institutions, including reduced costs, as health facilities can save up more money on their medical supplies when they purchase wholesale from Medwish. This can free up funds that can be used for other purposes, such as hiring new staff or purchasing additional equipment.

Medwish offers a wide range of products from different manufacturers. This allows healthcare institutions to find the perfect product for their needs.Thanks to their competitive prices and wide selection, Medwish is the perfect partner for any institution looking to improve its facilities.

Contact Medwish today to get the best deals for your medical equipment.