Patient monitoring systems are essential in the healthcare system. It is a medical device that is used to measure and record the vital signs of the body. It involves several electro-mechanical components, processing systems, and sensors. Health specialists assess various parameters of the human body over time, encompassing:
- Blood pressure
- Temperature
- Pulse oximetry
- Blood Glucose
- Heart rate
- CO2 levels
Healthcare specialists operate the patient monitors to record ECG readings, respiration rate, temperature measurement, and blood-oxygen saturation levels of the patients. Multi-model monitors measure these parameters together, giving crucial information of patient’s overall health over a period of time. They are typically installed in critical care units, emergencies departments, and operation rooms besides the patient’s bed.
Types of Patient Monitoring system
There are many different types of patient monitor, used for specific purposes. They can be defined in two categories: Bedside monitors and Remote monitors. Some monitors used in ICU and emergency rooms are:
- ECG monitors
- EKG monitors
- Medical monitors
- Anesthesia monitors
- Vital body signs monitors
Physiological data is represented on the monitor screen as data digitally. They are characterized by the numerical readouts of computed parameter readings along with their minimum, maximum, average, and abnormal values, and relative frequencies.
Modern remote patient monitors use digital signal processing, which is beneficial as it allows miniaturization, portability, and multi-parameter displays.
Uses of Patient Monitoring systems
Patient monitors are used in many situations in hospitals. Latest innovative patient monitors are wireless so can be used remotely. Likewise, touchscreens and simple intuitive software navigation give the healthcare specialists easy access to comprehensive patient data in the medical facilities. Here are some of the best uses of patient monitors:
- Recording the multi-parameters simultaneously and illustrate them on the screen.
- Advanced and multi-tasking devices for temperature, blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, and respiration monitoring.
- Patient monitoring devices are used in critical operations.
- Easy to manage a comprehensive and flexible system for health professionals.
- Touchable screen for convenient monitoring.
- Recording of data transmission on a display screen.
- Detect slight fluctuations above or below the average range.
- Evaluate the patient’s health level every second.
- Storage of documented data on the portal or database.
Beyond the hospital wards, remote patient monitors are used in in the homes and small clinics. For instance, glucose measuring devices have been in use by diabetic patients for many years. Sphygmomanometers are also used in the home setting to detect fluctuations in blood pressure.
Patient monitoring systems are becoming smarter and more portable.
