Posts Tagged ‘ Healthcare ’

Catheters and Sitting in Misery

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 posted by admin 8:23 am
Coming to terms with your catheter
Image by Compound Eye via Flickr

The word "catheter" actually comes from the ancient Syrian word for "to sit."  The Syrians made the first catheters, which were simply reeds.  Using these reeds to "sit" inside of bodily orifices like plugs, they were a medical tool which could be used to drain out that which should not be in the body any longer.  By inhibiting the body’s ability to close up a wound, and essentially "irrigating" out fluids of some sort, these tubes serve a valuable purpose to medical practice.  However, they can also cause a great deal of suffering to those into whom they are inserted.  After all, catheters have the potential to be very damaging to the people who have them inside their bodies.

A lot of people essentially go to hospitals to get even sicker than they originally were.  And catheters are no exception to this dubious rule.  As a catheter is essentially a foreign object sticking out of (and holding open) a human body, it is pretty much a guaranteed breeding ground for bacteria, as well as a highway by which this bacteria may have easy access to that body.  It has been speculated that of the tens of thousands of deaths due to the "super bugs" (infectious agents which are highly resistant to antibiotics, which breed like rabbits in a hospital setting), a very large number are due to catheters.  In the treatment of urinary catheters, especially, lies the potential for a great deal of infection.  It is in direct, constant contact with bodily waste, after all.

But of course, catheters can be useful, and most likely do save some lives due to their intended "drainage and irrigation" functionality.  Urinary catheterization is useful in the removal of the aforementioned body waste, and can also drain urine from the kidney by percutaneous nephrostomy.  Catheters can also collect fluid, as in cases such as abdominal abscesses.  They can also be used in veins, such as during angiograph, balloon sinuplasty, angioplasty and balloon septostomy.  A catheter can also be introduced into a vein or an artery, and used to measure blood pressure or intracranial pressure.

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Category : General

Purchase Burn and Trauma Kits From Used Medical Equipment Suppliers

Sunday, August 8, 2010 posted by admin 5:50 am

When you are stocking up on safety supplies, you might want to consider purchasing burn kits from used medical equipment suppliers. When you are purchasing an item used or refurbished, you get quality items at deeply discounted prices. Many used medical equipment providers work like regular stores, and offer sales and other specials on items such as first aid burn and trauma kits.

A first aid burn and trauma kit is a bag or box of supplies or even a wall mounted cabinet holding different types of equipment one might need in an emergency situation such as a trauma or a burn. Different suppliers put different items in the kit, and the items in a kit might vary based on legislation and advice from different organizations or governmental offices. When looking at used medical equipment, look for kits that stands out visually and are waterproof. Once you have the kit in your possession, make sure you check it regularly to see if it needs to be restocked and to ascertain whether items indicate have expired or are damaged.

Look at the contents in your kit before you purchase the item from a used medical equipment supplier. In the case of the trauma such as bone fractures, bleeding, and burns, you need to have specific equipment on hand. You want to make sure the kit contains adhesive bandages such as Band-Aids made for specific body parts; sterile dressings one can apply to a wound such as sterile eye pads and petrolatum gauze pads for chest wounds; other types of bandages to secure dressings (gauze, elastic, roller, or triangular); butterfly closure strips; saline for cleaning out wounds; soap; antiseptic for reducing the risk of infection; burn dressing (a sterilized pad that is soaked in cooling gel); hypoallergenic adhesive tape; and hemostatic agents to cause blood clotting.

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Category : Diagnose, Used Medical Equipment

Get Backboards and Collars From Used Medical Equipment Providers

Thursday, August 5, 2010 posted by admin 5:45 am

If someone is in a serious accident and has a serious injury, it’s crucial for them to remain immobile until they can get to a hospital where they are checked on by an experienced professional. One way to keep a person from moving after an accident is to put them on a long spine board (LSB), also known as a backboard.This is a medical device that is used to transport patients with potential spine injuries. The boards help prevent any movement of the spine, which could lead to permanent injury. Paramedics and EMTs are trained in the usage off the backboard.

Another type of equipment that helps support the spinal cord and head in an injured patient is a cervical collar, also known as a neck brace. Medical professionals place a collar on a victim to prevent further damage, paralysis, and death. Although cervical collars are used in emergency situations, they can also be used for therapy, helping realign an individual’s spine and relieving pain. They are also used for sprains, strains, and whiplash.

To keep costs down, consider purchasing backboards and collars from used medical equipment providers. These are specialized stores that refurbish equipment, often on their own premises in their own warehouses, and re-sell the equipment to the public and professional medical personnel at discounted prices. Cervical collars are common items one might pick up from a used medical equipment supplier.

If you are looking to purchase a long spine board from a used medical equipment supplier, there are several points you want to consider. Generally, spine boards are made of plastic or wood. Modern medicine is shifting towards the plastic over the wood due to the maintenance that is required to keep the wooden boards in optimal working condition. Cracks and other imperfections in the wood can harbor bacteria so it’s critical to keep it well maintained. Some medics invest in short spine boards, however this is also becoming passé since modern medicine shows that it’s better to walk a patient with a cervical collar around their neck then to use the short board.

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Category : Hospital, Medication

Splinting in Medical Situations

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 posted by admin 5:43 am

When an emergency responder gets to the scene of an accident and finds a victim with a swollen, painful, deformed extremity, this generally means that the individual has a fractured bone, which must be splinted. The concept behind splinting is to stabilize an individual so they don’t move around and cause more injury to the damaged area. Remember to splint not only the actual fracture, but also split the joints below and above the injury. Emergency medical technicians are trained how to use a splint properly.

Use a traction splint if a fracture or break is isolated to the femur and if there are no other traumatic injuries to the mid-thigh. The traction splint should be used to treat severe femur fractures. If you suspect a distal fracture, avoid splinting. You want to avoid splinting an injury that is close to the knee, pelvis, hip, ankle, or the leg where the distal limb is connected by marginal tissue.

There are different types of traction splints on the market, and if you are looking to purchase a traction splint, you might want to consider consulting a used medical equipment supplier. The suppliers make it their business to know and understand the latest technology in health medicine. They can help you find the splint that meets your specific needs. There are two basic varieties of traction splints. One is a bed that is used to support the injured leg. The other is a single post with an interior post, which telescopes out towards a patient’s feet.

Used medical equipment is generally just as good as new equipment since companies refurbish items such as splints, ensuring that they are an optimal working order. Before applying a splint, stabilize the area below and above the fracture and check the area for distal pulse, sensory and motor function. If more than one rescuer is available, one should stabilize the patient while the other one applies the splint.

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Category : Hospital, Medication

Using an Auto Refinance for Equipment Purchases

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 posted by admin 8:12 am
Medical equipment
Image via Wikipedia

Medical professionals just starting in their careers may find that it can be financially challenging to get started. The cost of equipment can be initially high and finding the necessary equipment for their area of specialty can be a challenge. However, there are numerous online sites for those areas of concern that will help the medical professional find exactly what they’re looking for, at a cost that is reasonable for their budget and with the level of quality in the equipment that they need to assemble a competitive medical business.

In many situations, purchasing medical equipment brand new is often not necessary, especially if the niche area does not dictate having new equipment as a means to success. For instance, most types of medical practices opt to purchase used X-ray machines instead of new ones, to offset the high cost of buying one brand new.

Since starting a medical profession is much like starting a small business, the individual may have to use their own funds to get the business started. In financial cases where this would be a challenge, he may want to consider an auto refinance in order to reduce his own personal expenses so that he can place more of his disposable income into the business to get it up and running. Refinancing his automobile is also a great way to establish a solid credit history and to increase his credit rating, especially if it is suffering in any way.

Once the professional has established the business, he will still need to be frugal in his spending and find creative ways to reduce his expenses. He should always keep an eye on resources geared towards his medical profession by purchasing good, used equipment, establishing a solid working budget and focus on keeping his expenses low while growing and increasing his revenue.

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Category : Medication

Purchase Used Equipment for Laparoscopic Procedures

Sunday, August 1, 2010 posted by admin 5:39 am

In health medicine a century ago, if an individual needed surgery on their pelvis or abdomen, a surgeon would make an incision that was long enough to reach into the patient and fix the problem. After the surgery was done, the surgeon would stitch up the incision, and the patient would recover not only from the procedure itself but also from the cut. Laparoscopy is a more modern means to achieving the success of an operation without making a huge incision. This type of operation is performed through tiny incisions, and uses the aid of a camera to locate problems in the patient. The camera is used to diagnose and inspect medical conditions, and they are used to perform surgery.

A surgeon who wants to use laparoscopic procedures in the operating room will have to stock up on the proper medical equipment. One way of doing this is by purchasing used medical equipment, which keeps costs down. The surgeon will want to purchase a laparoscope. There are two types on the market. One is a telescopic rod length system, which generally connects to a video camera. The other is a digital laparoscope end, which has a charge coupled device on the end that eliminates the rod lens system. It also has a fiber optic cable system attached, which connects to a cold light source that is xenon or halogen. This illuminates the operative field.

The benefits of using microscopic equipment include a reduced recovery time, reduced pain, and a reduction in hemorrhaging occurrences. Patients recover more quickly because of the small incisions. When stocking a surgical unit with used equipment from a reliable supplier, in addition to the aforementioned lower-cost, a medical technician knows that they are using recycled materials that are refurbished to their top performing condition. Talk to a customer service representative to find out which equipment would best suit your purposes.

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Category : Hospital, Medication

Stock up Surgical Inventory With Used Laryngoscopes

Friday, July 30, 2010 posted by admin 5:37 am

When you are stocking up on your medical equipment inventory, you might want to consider purchasing used medical equipment such as laryngoscopes. A laryngoscope has several different uses. The tool is handy when administering general anesthesia or for assisting mechanical ventilation. It can detect causes of voice problems such as a weak voice, a breathing voice, a hoarse voice, or no voice at all. The laryngoscope can detect the source of ear pain and throat pain. It helps evaluate what is wrong when an individual has difficulty swallowing such as mucus with blood or a continuous sensation of a lump in an individual’s throats. The laryngoscope detects injuries or strictures to the throat as well as obstructive masses in the airway.

Legitimate used medical equipment suppliers have their thumbs on the pulse of the health medicine industry. They know the most current and most popular equipment that will help your lab run smoothly. As you look over the inventory at a used medical equipment supplier, you might notice that there are different types of laryngoscopes on the market.The rigid laryngoscope is used for intubation for anesthesia, critical care, and pulmonary purposes. It generally has a handle which incorporates two batteries and in interchangeable blade that has a bulb light source. The black lightbulbs enhance phosphorus illumination in vocal cords. A laryngoscope might have different types of blade. The two most common types of blade are the straight Miller and the curved Macintosh.

The direct line is used if the patient is lying on their backs. It’s inserted into the patient’s mouth on the right, and is then flipped over to the left in order to trap and move the tongue out of the line of vision. The Transnasal Flexible Laryngoscope is used in office diagnostics where patients remain awake. This instrument is generally used to observe the vocal fold during singing or speech. It does biopsies on suspicious masses. When looking at different types of laryngoscopes, consider the ways you plan to use the equipment. Consult with a used medical equipment supplier to find the optimal tools for your specific purposes.

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Category : Hospital, Used Medical Equipment

Purchase Used Medical Equipment for Electro-Stimulation

Sunday, May 23, 2010 posted by admin 2:46 am
Medical equipment
Image via Wikipedia

Workers in the rehabilitation industry know how to use equipment to make their patients’ lives easier. They also know how expensive this equipment can be. One way to deal with the incredible costs of medical equipment is to purchase used medical equipment. One type if equipment that therapists and physicians can purchase used is electrical muscle stimulation equipment.

Used electrical muscle stimulation equipment, which is sometimes called electromyostimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation, uses electric impulses to elicit muscle contraction. It causes muscles to contract using impulses that copy action potential from the central nervous system. The used equipment for electrical muscle stimulation uses pads that stick to an individual’s skin.

Physicians and rehabilitation specialists use electrical muscle stimulation equipment to tone and strengthen muscles. The equipment is used to help prevent muscle atrophy, which occurs after injuries and damage to the ligaments, joints, tendons, muscles, and bones. It can also be used to help relax muscles spasms, increase blood circulation, re-educate muscles, prevent venous thrombosis after surgery, and to increase range of motion.

Physicians also use electrical muscle stimulation equipment to help patients with aesthetic goals, although this is quite controversial. Some claim that the devices burn calories. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejects this idea, pointing out that weight loss occurs when several muscles, the respiratory system, and the heart work together. It claims that the electrical muscle stimulation equipment burns so few calories that using it as a weight-loss device is negligible. Others use electrical muscle stimulation equipment for sport training. Some coaches, including some high-profile coaches, use the equipment regularly as a main focus in athletic training.

There are two different types of electrical muscle stimulation equipment approved by the FDA. One type is prescription devices, which should only be used under an authorized practitioner’s supervision. The other type of equipment can be purchased over-the-counter. Both types of equipment can be purchased by used medical equipment suppliers.

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Category : Hospital, Medication, Used Medical Equipment

Defibrillators Help Save Lives

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 posted by admin 7:22 am
A Welch Allyn PIC 50 monitor/defibrillator fro...
Image via Wikipedia

The next time you’re in a public place, take a good look around. If you are in a public area, there’s a good chance that there is a defibrillator close to you. A defibrillator is a device that delivers electric shocks to an individual’s heart quickly and safely when they are in cardiac arrest. A person’s survival could be dependent on the shock, which must be administered between three and six minutes after the cardiac event for optional results.

This vitally important device can be purchased from the used medical equipment suppliers. If you are purchasing a defibrillator for a public area such as a sports arena, school, airport, shopping mall, hospital, church, workplace, Senior Center, or other public arena, you might want to consider the placement of the defibrillator. You want to place it where people can find it.

Place the defibrillator in an area with high traffic. Try to put in an uncluttered location so that people easily find it and recognize the device. It helps if you can place a wall sign near the defibrillator, letting people know about its availability. Some schools and public buildings put signs on their main doors letting people know that a defibrillator is in the building. If you can’t make the defibrillator immediately visible, consider putting it in a wall cabinet that has flashing lights as well as an alarm. This helps emergency responders locate the victim when they come to help.

If the public area is large, you might want to consider purchasing more than one defibrillator from a used medical equipment supplier. Response time is critical, so you want to place the defibrillators close to any main areas where a person might have a heart attack. Once you choose a location, document the area and make sure that any emergency responder is notified regarding the defibrillators location.

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Category : Hospital