Patient monitors are used in hospitals and clinics to evaluate patient’s overall health. These vital medical device patient monitors have been in use by hospitals, clinics, and in the home for many years.
A patient vital signs that need monitor include the following:
- Pulse
- Body temperature
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
A patients vital signs show their overall health. Portable monitors and wearable monitoring devices are in everyday.
Types of patient monitors
Patient monitoring devices can give accurate measurements of a patient’s body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, heart rate, and respiration rate. Current healthcare practices rely on vital body signs to diagnose symptoms of certain diseases. The most used patient monitors include:
1: Thermometer
Accurate reading of a patients temperature is an important practice in disease management. The normal body temperature is approximately 98.6°F (37°C). A fever, which is an increase in body temperature, is commonly caused by an infection. A thermometer can be used in various ways to measure body temperature:
- Oral
- Rectal
- Axillary
2: Blood pressure monitor
The normal blood pressure of an individual is 120 systolic and 80 for diastolic. Blood pressure monitors are available for home use so patients can keep their blood pressure monitored and under control at home. Patients diagnosed with hypertension need to monitor their blood pressure on regular basis.
3: Pulse oximeter
A pulse oximeter is a medical tool usually slipped onto a fingertip. It estimates the oxygen saturation of the blood and the heartbeat rate. Most pulse oximeters display three readings the most important of which is the oxygen saturation level, which is abbreviated as SpO2 and is usually provided as a percentage. The reason for pulse oximetry is to test how well your heart is pumping oxygen around the patients body.
4: Heart rate monitors
A patients heart rate is measured by the number it beats in one minute. During a rested period, a decrease in heart rate is normal. Advanced digital monitors are available that are worn and use optical sensors to determine the heart rate while resting or during exercise. These ‘personal’ monitors display heart beat and heart rate by measuring blood flow through the skin. The normal heart rates at rest of an adult is 60 – 100 beats per minute but it can increase during exercise.
These four are the best known and probably most used patient monitors used at home and in medical facilities.
