Medical Devices Most Likely to Need Repair
The medical device industry is constantly innovating. From apps and wearables that can remotely monitor patients to AI-directed surgical devices, medicine and technology are combining in the 21st century to create life-saving results.
However, hospitals and private practices are well-trafficked businesses. The devices in these places are used frequently, contributing to daily wear and tear. Unlike other industries, repair cannot be put off when a single mistake or deficiency in a medical device can lead to health-related problems for a patient.
Many medical devices are built to be durable, however there are some that, due to frequent use or by nature of their build, need to be repaired or calibrated more frequently. Below, we list common medical devices that are most likely to need a ‘check-up’ of their own.
Medical Scales
Medical scales come in a variety of forms. From typical step scales to wheelchair scales and bed scales, there are many different scales that cater to differently abled patients.
Scales are used to monitor patients’ weight to check for health benchmarks, as well as to recommend diet and exercise plans. However, accuracy is incredibly important in these devices seeing as they are used in the majority of medical appointments.
Scales need to be repaired to validate the weight that they show and need to be attended to by a licensed repairman. Medical Equipment Repair Network can help to connect you and your practice to this service.
EKG Machines
A broken EKG machine can lead to decreased quality of care for patients. EKG machines, or electrocardiogram machines, record the electric signals coming from a patient’s heart. EKGs can detect conditions such as structural abnormalities and arrhythmia.
EKG machines usually cost in the thousands of dollars, so repair and calibration is important to ensure that they are replaced near the end of their lifespan rather than at the beginning. In general, EKG machines should be calibrated regularly.
Electric Hospital Beds
Hospital beds have come a long way since simple cots and bedrolls. The hospital beds of today boast ‘smart’ features and have slowly added in features recommended by chiropractors and orthopedic experts to ensure maximum health while confined to a bed.
Since these devices incorporate mechanical and electronic elements, there are numerous avenues of repair that a caretaker must consider. Whether it’s from overuse, typical wear and tear, or a system failure, hospital beds are the backbone of a care taking facility. Since the hospital bed is where patients typically receive the majority of their care and spend some of their recovery in, ensuring that these devices are up to speed and properly calibrated is very important for any practitioner.
Ultrasound Equipment
Since its inception, ultrasound equipment has been incredibly versatile in healthcare settings. From detecting a fetus’s first heartbeat to examining internal organs, it would be unheard of for a hospital not to possess this equipment.
As ultrasound equipment has so many uses, it’s no wonder that it has to be repaired and inspected frequently. These devices typically last a little less than a decade, but this is only if practitioners maintain them properly. Everything from picture clearness to probe quality is important to give patients the most accurate healthcare data and diagnosis.
Patient Lifts
Patient lifts are incredibly important devices, from nursing homes and hospice to hospitals and those practicing home care. ‘Lifts’ come in a few different forms, but generally they are used to move patients from one area (such as a bed, wheelchair, or toilet) into another.
Lifts need to be repaired frequently lest a patient is dropped, which can lead to devastating injuries for the healthcare industry’s most vulnerable patients.
Generally, repair to lifts comes in a variety of forms, from hydraulic repair and calibration to replacing the ‘seat’ of the lift.
Vital Monitors
Vital monitors are in need of frequent repair and calibration. A failure of a monitor to track a patient’s heartbeat or blood pressure can be the difference between life and death in a surgical setting. Furthermore, repairing these devices frequently can prevent healthcare costs in the future by detecting medical issues early and accurately.
Centrifuges
Centrifuges are used in academic, laboratory, and hospital settings. These devices range in price, quality, and size, but are important when collecting samples from patients or creating antibiotics in a lab.
These high-tech devices need frequent calibration to ensure that they are doing their job properly. Since many of the things they help to create are injected into patients or used in academic experiments, the quality of the device is paramount to ensure that practitioners and academics are being safe and accurate.