During a hospital stay, the doctors often want to monitor and record the patient’s vital signs as a standard practice in order to assess the basic bodily functions. These vital signs are a set of parameters that are inclusive of body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, as well as respiration rate along blood oxygen saturation. Conventionally, these factors were read using multiple devices such as thermometers, sphygmomanometers, digital wrist blood pressure monitors, etc. However, to obtain the vital sign data single-handedly using only one device, a special vital signs machine is employed. Let us take a look at how these vital signs monitors take parameters that serve as a primary indicator of a patient’s physiological state.
Importance of Monitoring Vital Signs-Statistical Analysis
Timely monitoring of vital signs has been reported to significantly reduce the chances of occurrence of serious adverse events. A study published in the British Journal of Nursing Studies has fortified the above-mentioned findings by stating that frequent measurement of vital signs leaves little to no room for the misidentification of the deteriorating patient condition.
It has also been proven that these continuous measurements, due to the provision of a 24-hour patient profile, ensure overall patient safety.
Moreover, the overall workload of nurses is also lessened which gives them more time to focus on the wellbeing of their patients as well as to take some rest during their tiring work hours.
How Does a Vital Sign Monitor Work?
Vital signs monitors have small sensors which are to be attached to the patient’s body. A sensor can be further attached to a patch that sticks onto the skin or can be in the form of a clipping device that gets affixed to one of the fingers. These sensors sense the body parameters and display them on the monitor.
Usually, these monitors are portable and are equipped with a touch screen along with a handle. Moreover, their backup battery supply keeps them running for longer. The normal ranges of vital signs parameters have been given in the following table:
| Parameters | Normal ranges |
| Temperature | 97.7 to 99.5°F |
| Heart rate | 60 to 100 beats per minute |
| Respiratory rate | 12 to 20 breaths per minute |
| Blood pressure | 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg |
| Oxygen saturation | 95 to 100% |
Advantages Associated with Vital Signs Measurement
Vital signs machines, when used as a replacement to the manual system of taking health-related parameters by nurses, provide the following notable advantages:
Quantification of vital sign parameters using a vital signs machine gives accurate and reliable data with minimum to no chances of errors. This gives dominance to the digital system as, in the case of manual vital signs monitoring, the incidences of human errors are high.
With the employment of a vital sign machine, it has become possible to track multiple health-related parameters in a simultaneous manner.
Consistent measurement of a patient’s vital signs assists in the compilation of electronic patient records. This way, not only a large amount of data collected over time about a single patient is obtained but also the need for manual record keeping is eliminated.
In case of a parameter exceeding its normal ranges, the vital signs devices are programmed to set off an alarm to alert the healthcare providers. This way, a patient can be attended immediately with certain interventions to manage her or his condition.
Vital Signs Machines-Notable Brands and Their Features
Multiple brands manufacture and market vital signs machines most of which are efficacious in performance and easy to use. Some of these devices have been enlisted below along with their features:
EDAN M3 Vital Signs Monitor
EDAN M3 vital signs monitor is an accurate, durable, as well as cost-effective device. Its portability as well as multi-functionality in terms of the number of parameters it can measure render it a dominant product in its domain.
With a high-resolution screen, the device is able to display readings within a small fraction of 15 seconds. The device has a user-friendly interface to ease its operation. With a built-in lithium-ion battery, the device can continuously work for 10 hours.
Masimo Root with Noninvasive Monitoring Device
Masimo monitoring device is a non-invasive device that effectively measures temperature as well as blood pressure.
The device is instantly interpretable and is equipped with high high-visibility display.
Moreover, to enhance its utility in hospitals, Masimo’s monitoring device has a multi-touch navigation system. It also automates the calculation of early warning scores (EWS).
Connex Vital Signs Monitor by Welch Allyn
Connex Vital Signs Monitor by Welch Allyn is a portable, lightweight medical device equipped with features like a touch screen monitor which displays the parameters in bright colors to assist readability.
The device also has a minimum number of buttons or knobs which eases the cleaning process. It can be employed to measure blood pressure and temperature in adult and pediatric patients, as well as neonates.
Vital signs machines mentioned in this article, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770 at the most affordable prices.
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Conclusion
Vital signs machines have widely replaced the conventional methods of taking patient’s health-related parameters.
These devices continuously take data regarding the patient’s blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, oxygen saturation, as well as respiratory rate.
According to the published literature, doing so has been proven to cause a prominent reduction in the chances of the severity of a patient’s condition going unnoticed.
Hence, the installation of these systems is a way to increase patient safety and share the workload of nurses. Purchasing medical devices from a trusted supplier like Health Supply 770 is essential to obtain a good quality product. Their prices as well as services further enhance the buyer’s experience.
References:
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
