ECG monitor replacement
- Thread starter Vic Mesa
- Start date
Ridryder911
EMS Guru
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Maybe not a prescribed life, but they should be evaluated by a reputable bio-medical engineer to ensure safety and accuracy. Most of the problems is the life of the batteries and ability to function properly.
Most are "retired" not because they are "old" but rather after better and lighter monitors come on the market with better tools.
R/r 911
Most are "retired" not because they are "old" but rather after better and lighter monitors come on the market with better tools.
R/r 911
MSDeltaFlt
RRT/NRP
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Very true, Rid. If your monitors are cared for properly, they could quite possibly outlast today's standard of care.
AJ Hidell
Forum Deputy Chief
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Many agencies will retire them at a point where they are still worth something used, rather than waiting til they completely die. If your monitors are getting long in the tooth, but are not yet outdated enough to replace with newer technology, it would be smart to do some research on resale prices to see at what age they begin to decline in value too quickly so you can avoid going past that point.
mycrofft
Still crazy but elsewhere
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There is a watershed between user and biomedical technician maintenance.
I'm probably preaching to the choir and teaching grandma how to suck eggs, but there are four areas which will place your monitor out of action most frequently, in descending order of likelihood:
1. User error
2. Bad cable from pt to machine (called "the harness").
3. Power problem (batteries worn out, batteries not charging properly, power cord not plugged in or plugged in improperly or broken).
4. Damage to the machine from rough handling, abuse, and the cables being yanked or stored with tension on the plugs going into the machine (tears plugs loose frmo the motherboard).
Don't know about your baliwick, but ours legally requires anything beyond steps 1-3 to be repaired by a tech.You can find your user manual online or dig it out of the trash whenever they unpack a new one, use your owner's manual troubleshooting steps.
Someone needs to be in charge of batteries and rechargers also, makes it much more likely they will be managed better than catch as catch can. Yor batteries and or chargers can be in need of replacement or work and the monitor will seem to be on the fritz.
I'm probably preaching to the choir and teaching grandma how to suck eggs, but there are four areas which will place your monitor out of action most frequently, in descending order of likelihood:
1. User error
2. Bad cable from pt to machine (called "the harness").
3. Power problem (batteries worn out, batteries not charging properly, power cord not plugged in or plugged in improperly or broken).
4. Damage to the machine from rough handling, abuse, and the cables being yanked or stored with tension on the plugs going into the machine (tears plugs loose frmo the motherboard).
Don't know about your baliwick, but ours legally requires anything beyond steps 1-3 to be repaired by a tech.You can find your user manual online or dig it out of the trash whenever they unpack a new one, use your owner's manual troubleshooting steps.
Someone needs to be in charge of batteries and rechargers also, makes it much more likely they will be managed better than catch as catch can. Yor batteries and or chargers can be in need of replacement or work and the monitor will seem to be on the fritz.
Last edited by a moderator:
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First, welcome to EMTLife!
I don't believe there is any standard life for monitors. Like anything, it depends on many factors. I've found that usually monitors are retired not due to condition or age, but instead because the service has the resources to purchase a newer model.
I don't believe there is any standard life for monitors. Like anything, it depends on many factors. I've found that usually monitors are retired not due to condition or age, but instead because the service has the resources to purchase a newer model.