When ambulances transport non-emergency patients to the hospital, they often transport what doctors call "high acuity patients."
These patients may not be in immediate danger of dying, but they are often in danger of developing life-threatening conditions. They require additional attention from ICU nurses and constant monitoring to prevent worsening symptoms.
One example of a high acuity patient would be a post-operative patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because of the illness, patients won't breathe deeply while they're recovering from surgery. These patients have increased risk for developing dangerous conditions like pneumonia.
At the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition in Boston today, Nihon Kohden America revealed a new 5.5-inch color touchscreen transport monitor. The monitor displays and records nine vital functions including ECG, respiration, pulse oximetry, dual temperature and non-invasive blood pressure.
Paramedics can use the transport monitor while carrying a high acuity patient to the hospital. Then, the Nihon Kohden monitor can be connected directly to TR-6000 or 9000 bedside monitors in the patient's room.
"By providing visibility into nine critical parameters and seven waveforms, it makes basic and high acuity transport possible," explained Nihon Kohden America VP Mike Dashefsky. "There are no other transport monitors available that can offer this level of portability coupled with the same level of features found in high acuity monitors."
The portable monitor features five hours of battery life as well as embedded memory for recalling arrhythmias, graphic trends, tabular trends and full disclosure review.
Hospitals and medical centers that use the transport monitor as well as Nihon Kohden's enterprise monitoring system can deliver seamless patient care, starting at the point of transport and ending when the patient is discharged.
Nihon Kohden's transport monitor weighs approximately 3.5 pounds.
The National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition is sponsored by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
Edited by
Rich Steeves
