If you or a family member has been treated at a hospital emergency room or has been admitted to the hospital, you may have noticed an increased number of patient monitors in the admitting area as well as in the emergency room. There are monitors to register heart rate, blood gases, blood pressure and temperature. For certain types of health issues, the use of a small wireless monitor can provide continuous checks on vital bodily functions and readings.
In an ideal world, the ratio of health care personnel to patient is 1:1. In the real world, there are not enough medical workers to go around, especially in intensive care units. When a patient must have continuous monitoring, a stay in the intensive care unit is necessary. With a small wireless monitor, the patient can be moved to a less intensive care bed that usually costs less money to manage.
The costs of health care in hospitals and medical facilities are constantly increasing. The need for continuous monitoring is also growing, so there are more monitored beds needed at a higher cost than previously. By placing patients on monitors but placing them in standard beds, a consistent level of care can be maintained, but the cost of patient care is less.
Salary for a person trained as a licensed practical nurse is less than one for a registered nurse. If an LPN can provide the patient care and the continuous monitoring for a patient in a standard bed, it will be less expensive than keeping that same patient in the intensive care unit under the care of a registered nurse. The key is that continuous monitoring is provided in either case. Only the cost of the care varies.
The usual movement of patients is from an emergency room intake into an intensive care unit. As the condition of the patients is stabilized, the patient can be moved to a regular bed. If no improvement is seen, the patient previously had to remain in an ICU bed because it was the only place where continuous monitoring could be assured. Automatic monitoring allows the patient to be moved to a regular bed earlier.
Objective measurements are vital to patient monitoring records. A continuous reading of vital signs will point out small variations in readings that might be missed with a periodic check of conditions. The purpose of keeping patients in the ICU is to provide constant monitoring of their condition. Even more important is the need for assessments of the patient’s condition to be objective rather than subjective.
Often, patients under constant care must be moved from one location to another. Movement from the emergency room to intensive care and movement to conduct diagnostic tests are safer with monitoring. This can be accomplished without disrupting the patient more than necessary.
Escalating health care costs, particularly for hospital and medical facility care are threatening the very facilities where the care is carried out. Any techniques and equipment innovations that reduce patient costs are welcomed by doctors and patients alike. The use of patient monitors is one of the ways that the cost of patient care can be managed. Lower staffing costs can be passed on to the patient. Using monitors to do the patient observation reduces labor costs in the care facility.
If you have been treated at a emergency room or admitted to the hospital, you might have seen an increased number of patient monitors in the admitting area and a patient monitor or two in the emergency room.