The Types of Medical Equipment Commonly Used in Hospital Setting
As science and technology caught more innovations in the past decades, the effectiveness of medical equipment, supplies, and tools progressed.
Every future UCAT (UKCAT) courses student must know that gone are the days when medical facilities had to resort to make-shift supplies just to cope with the demands of the patients.
Thankfully, medical suppliers have invented groundbreaking devices to address almost every patient’s health concerns and issues.
The Importance of Medical Supplies in a Hospital
This huge amount spent on medical equipment and supplies is a proof of the value of having these logistics in a hospital. These equipment and supplies are especially designed to help in the diagnosis, monitoring, and/or treatment of different medical conditions. Without high-tech equipment and supplies, many lives would be lost without a fight. This is why innovations in the medical technology industry are very important to the healthcare industry in general. There are many basic types of supplies that include:
• Self Care. Sometimes called “home care” products, these are things that a patient uses in their daily lives. Examples of these are hearing aids, tools for diabetes management, and others that are used at home.
• Electronic. To better monitor a patient’s health and have a centralized approach on medical records, some hospitals employ Electronic Medical records (EMR), which at times is also called Electronic Health Records (ELR). Such helps facilitate better information exchange inside the hospital.
• Diagnostic. These are tools that help in the testing or screening a patient’s condition. Gadgets like Otoscopes (or a device used to check the outer and middle ear), Sphygmomanometers (device to get a patient’s blood pressure), and Ophthalmoscopes (used in eye exams) fall in this type of medical supplies.
• Surgical. From stainless steel tools to diagnostic scopes, these equipment used in surgeries are very important in helping perform these operations to treat a patient’s condition.
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME).These very durable tools like walking aids, transfer equipment, bah safety, and wheelchairs are very important in aiding and transporting sick or recovering patients that are not capable of walking or are not advised to walk.
• Acute Care. Compared to home or self-care supplies, these devices need the help of several trained patient care staff to be used. Nursing care kits like different kinds of trays, wound and skin care kits, equipment for monitoring are critical for patients who need close monitoring or care because of a very serious condition.
• Emergency and Trauma. These devices/supplies are used to provide immediate care to patients that need immediate care for severe life-threatening injuries or trauma.
• Long-term Care. Such tools or supplies ae used to provide care to patients for an extended period needs equipment are can be used to provide care for an extended period of time. Beds, mattresses, therapeutic chairs, mobility assistance devices, incontinence management supplies, exercise equipment, as well as grooming and dressing aides all fall under this type.
• Storage and Transport. These devices are used to help contain and transport small medical supplies. Case carts, storage carts, supply carts, linen carts, food carts, and procedure cats are just of the examples of this type of medical supply.
Why Do Hospitals Need Safe Supplies?
According to UCAT (UKCAT) courses instructors, patient care and handling is critical in every hospital as such helps realize the reason for a hospital’s existence: provide a cure or treat sick patients. That is why it is best that hospitals properly manage and utilize safe medical supplies. Such doesn’t only ensure smooth hospital operations but also provide the best possible care for the patients. Without these, medical professionals may not be able to provide the best possible care to patients, which could lead to the filing of medical malpractice claims against the staff and the hospital.
The Importance of Medical Supplies in a Hospital
This huge amount spent on medical equipment and supplies is a proof of the value of having these logistics in a hospital. These equipment and supplies are especially designed to help in the diagnosis, monitoring, and/or treatment of different medical conditions. Without high-tech equipment and supplies, many lives would be lost without a fight. This is why innovations in the medical technology industry are very important to the healthcare industry in general. There are many basic types of supplies that include:
• Self Care. Sometimes called “home care” products, these are things that a patient uses in their daily lives. Examples of these are hearing aids, tools for diabetes management, and others that are used at home.
• Electronic. To better monitor a patient’s health and have a centralized approach on medical records, some hospitals employ Electronic Medical records (EMR), which at times is also called Electronic Health Records (ELR). Such helps facilitate better information exchange inside the hospital.
• Diagnostic. These are tools that help in the testing or screening a patient’s condition. Gadgets like Otoscopes (or a device used to check the outer and middle ear), Sphygmomanometers (device to get a patient’s blood pressure), and Ophthalmoscopes (used in eye exams) fall in this type of medical supplies.
• Surgical. From stainless steel tools to diagnostic scopes, these equipment used in surgeries are very important in helping perform these operations to treat a patient’s condition.
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME).These very durable tools like walking aids, transfer equipment, bah safety, and wheelchairs are very important in aiding and transporting sick or recovering patients that are not capable of walking or are not advised to walk.
• Acute Care. Compared to home or self-care supplies, these devices need the help of several trained patient care staff to be used. Nursing care kits like different kinds of trays, wound and skin care kits, equipment for monitoring are critical for patients who need close monitoring or care because of a very serious condition.
• Emergency and Trauma. These devices/supplies are used to provide immediate care to patients that need immediate care for severe life-threatening injuries or trauma.
• Long-term Care. Such tools or supplies ae used to provide care to patients for an extended period needs equipment are can be used to provide care for an extended period of time. Beds, mattresses, therapeutic chairs, mobility assistance devices, incontinence management supplies, exercise equipment, as well as grooming and dressing aides all fall under this type.
• Storage and Transport. These devices are used to help contain and transport small medical supplies. Case carts, storage carts, supply carts, linen carts, food carts, and procedure cats are just of the examples of this type of medical supply.
Why Do Hospitals Need Safe Supplies?
According to UCAT (UKCAT) courses instructors, patient care and handling is critical in every hospital as such helps realize the reason for a hospital’s existence: provide a cure or treat sick patients. That is why it is best that hospitals properly manage and utilize safe medical supplies. Such doesn’t only ensure smooth hospital operations but also provide the best possible care for the patients. Without these, medical professionals may not be able to provide the best possible care to patients, which could lead to the filing of medical malpractice claims against the staff and the hospital.
