The Benefits of Patient Telemetry

A patient who enters the ER with cardiac concerns needs to have their stress levels reduced as quickly as possible. Calm voices of understanding ER staff help. As odd as it sounds, the vital signs monitor also helps ease their minds and lowers the stress levels. A patient can literally view their heart rate and pressure as they await test results ordered by the attending physician. A blood pressure cuff is placed on the non-dominant arm or on the arm not connected to an I.V. used to maintain fluids and administer medications.

A nurse will attach a Patient Telemetry device or box to the cardiac patient to closely monitor any condition changes. Each box has been assigned a number for tracking purposes. The patient will keep a specific box during their stay unless during a transfer to another unit a change in telemetry boxes is necessary. This box is either inserted in a pouch the patient will wear around their neck or in a pocket on their gown. Five wires or leads extend from the top of the box. Each lead or wire ends in a color coded pad/electrode that corresponds to a certain location on a patient's body. Some patient telemetry boxes are adorned with a map of the body to show where these pads should properly be placed. This monitoring will help with patient care and medication decisions.

The pads monitor the electrical signals/activity of the heart. The telemetry box creates pictures from the signals and sends them to the telemetry department. The Telemetry Department monitors all telemetry systems used in the facility. The telemetry box number allows the Telemetry staff to alert nurses to any issues which arise be it a dying battery, loose leads or an electrode has fallen off the patient. Patients should be made aware there are considerations while wearing a telemetry box. If their physician permits, they can move as normally as possible. They should never attempt to replace a fallen pad on their own. They should use the nurse call button if a pad is loose or missing.

All electronic devices (cell phones, IPads, Laptops etc.) must be kept away from the telemetry box to avoid altered readings. It is best to keep such devices on the tray table when not in use. They must avoid getting the box wet. A nurse will remove and reattach the telemetry box for bathing. Any beeping a patient might hear usually results from traveling out of range. Usually when the patient has gone for ordered tests. It ceases when the patient returns to the unit. A combination of medications, care and the patient telemetry system help improve and reduce a cardiac patient's recovery time.

The author has worked as sales representative in many leading Companies that deals in cardiac monitoring equipment.http://www.jetmedical.com/