Stocking a hospital with the right equipment is critical. You need to be able to handle any emergency that presents itself. It could mean the difference between saving a life or fatality.
The Covid pandemic highlighted one scary fact. Many hospitals, including those in developed countries, do not have enough medical supplies.
A Harvard Business Review shared insights on the issue in the US. The country did not have sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE).
The situation got so bad at some point. Medical practitioners had to reuse disposable gloves and masks.
Those at the front lines found themselves at significant risk of contracting the disease. Other areas facing severe shortage were in test kit reagents and ICU medications.
Many fatalities were due to a lack of enough hospital beds, ventilators, and other major shortcomings. The latter included insufficient funding towards healthcare, thus poor performance in the sector.
Our article explores some must-have medical equipment. So what are they?
Heaters for Temperature Control
A hospital must be able to control the temperatures. A basic HVAC system may not work. It is, therefore, essential to have backup solutions. It will reduce health risks when the system is under maintenance or malfunctioning.
Different patients have different heat requirements. Burn patients, for example, will need warm temperatures.
On the other hand, EEG, scanning MRI, and CAT equipment need cool temperatures to operate.
You can find such solutions at Hi-Heat industries. These include:
- Custom-designed silicone rubber heaters are great for heat applications where you need them.
- Polyester heaters are moisture-resistant and are ideal for large-scale applications over vast areas.
- Polyimide Kapton heaters allow for immediate and near heat transfer. All these heating solutions provide excellent functionality while being quite affordable.
1. Hospital Stretchers
It would be easy to ignore the role that hospital stretchers play. Yet, they are one of the most critical pieces of equipment during an emergency. It is crucial to handle the patients safely while transporting them to the hospital.
Carrying the patients without proper support could lead to more problems. Some stretches have patient monitors, intravenous poles, and oxygen tanks. But, these add-ons will depend on the type of emergency medical personnel are dealing with.
2. Stethoscope
A stethoscope is like that friend who never leaves a doctor’s side. It is an essential first tool for listening to internal body sounds.
The doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the heart, lungs, blood flow, and bowels.
3. Monitor
As the name suggests, a monitor keeps track of critical aspects of a patient. These include blood oxygen levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature.
Checking vital signs is a critical step in some medical conditions. You will find them in use after surgery or even in the pediatric unit.
4. Defibrillator
Defibrillators have a critical role in restoring heart rhythms. Conditions like arrhythmia result in the heart beating too fast or too slow. A defibrillator uses an electric shock to restore the rhythm.
Situations like cardiac arrest need immediate action from the medical personnel. In this case, they will use an automated external defibrillator. Such are ideal because even those without training can use them.
Some patients use implantable cardioverter-defibrillators that share similarities with pacemakers.
The other is the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator. For this, the patient wears it next to the skin.
5. EKG and ECG Machines
Electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrocardiograph (EKG) machines provide the same functionality. They track the heart rhythm or electrical activity over time.
The healthcare personnel will use electrodes to attach them to the patient’s skin. If there is a heart problem, they will know from the past tense of the electrical signals.
6. Ventilators
Ventilators provide relief for those who may have respiratory problems. Some patients will also have them within the home setting.
Indeed this is one piece of equipment that offers critical life support. An inability to get insufficient oxygen and remove carbon dioxide is life-threatening.
7. X-Ray Machines
X-ray machines allow radiographers to see internal organs using electromagnetic radiation (X-ray).
Advancements in technology have given rise to computer radiography. Digital Imaging is much faster and provides more efficiency than film radiography.
8. Ultrasound
Many people associate ultrasounds with pregnancy. Yet, the machines provide so much more functionality outside of that. They work a lot like x-ray machines in that the practitioner gets to see the internal organs.
Digital Imaging transmits everything to a computer screen. The difference with the x-ray machine is that they do not use radiation. That makes it safe for use on pregnant women.
There are different types of ultrasounds, including endoscopic, external and internal. A typical pregnancy exam is an excellent example of an external ultrasound. The doctor will cover the skin with lubricating gel and then run the ultrasound over the bulge.
Endoscopic and internal ultrasounds require the insertion of a probe into the body. This could be via the mouth or other orifices. These types can be a bit more uncomfortable for the patients.
9. Dialysis Machines
Dialysis machines are critical for the survival of kidney patients. Such individuals do not have the capacity to remove excess toxins or solutes from the blood.
A build-up could result in fatalities. Dialysis machines take on that role of cleaning up the blood.
10. Sterilizer
Healthcare-associated infections are a great concern. Patients may contract infections after checking into a hospital.
A study shows that up to 1.7 million patients receiving in-care support will need treatment for such. A staggering 98,000 will succumb to the infections.
Health practitioners must take the necessary steps to ensure proper sanitation. This applies to themselves and the equipment.
Washing hands is crucial. For the equipment, the solution lies in having the right sterilizers. These kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi spores among many others. You will find these microbes in the hospital equipment.
Final Thoughts
Investing in the right equipment is critical for any medical care provider. We have looked at some must-have tools above. These could mean the difference between saving a patient’s life or not.
Something as simple as a sterilizer eliminates the threat of healthcare-associated infections. A stretcher provides a safe and effective way to transport patients during emergencies.
Remember, effective healthcare provision can only be as effective as the tools available.
