Some medical offices try to hold onto their medical equipment for a long time, figuring that as long as it works there is no need to replace it. However, manufacturers recommend upgrading frequently used machines – such as EKG machines – more often than any other piece of equipment. What is a small private practice to do when the cost of buying a new machine is too high to justify? It helps to look at outdated medical equipment as a safety hazard that cannot continue without serious health implications.

Is it time to upgrade your ECG, EKG or cardiac ultrasound machine? Ask yourself if your cardiac equipment is working properly. Is it reliable and accurate? Are there long periods of time when it’s not working? Before deciding on an upgrade, remember that the cost of making the change will be far less than the downtime created by a slow or outdated EKG machine.

When a medical office or hospital upgrades to new ECG/EKG equipment it is not uncommon for the professional team to complain about it. After all, they’ve been using the same machine for several years and they know exactly how it works. Newer machines are often much more sophisticated and they can take a long time to master, but over time the team will wonder what they did without the new features.

Whether your office plans to purchase new or used EKG equipment, it is much easier than ever to get the available training manuals online. Many manufacturers will make video training guides available on their websites, even for older models. Better yet, look for a model with on-screen tutorials that will walk you through the features of the machine. If you plan to buy an EKG machine, try to avoid high pressure sales tactics with local sales reps and in-person demos. Today it is easier than ever to get the information you need by searching on the Internet. Look for reviews of the EKG machines you are considering and you may be surprised to find a wealth of data on the web.

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Today, people are more health conscious and are coming forward as their own health advocates in regard to the medical treatment they are seeking and receiving. With the information surge of the internet, people are opting to research their own personal health concerns and are equipped with an influx of knowledge about various medical conditions. Patients today are challenging their doctors by asking more questions and by being active participants in their health maintenance. Lately, innovative medical technology has helped to increase the role of the patient provided care by creating alternatives to expensive hospital medical equipment.

Technology has benefited patients by providing them with inexpensive medical devices that patients can operate and use themselves outside of the medical office.
There is no doubt that technology has improved throughout all aspects of the health care industry. Advancing technology has enabled patients and doctors to interact differently and more constructively. Newer diagnostic tools and procedures have allowed the field of medicine to progress at rapid rates. Additionally, the design and construction of medical equipment has changed dramatically. Medical devices, such as EKG machines, are typically smaller and more user-friendly, which offers patients convenience, without sacrificing effectiveness. A major advantage of these new devices is that they make it possible to save time and often lives in a medical emergency situation.

Portable EKG machines are easy to transport, and this particular feature has helped in medical situations when time is of the essence. Years ago, EKG machines were large, expensive, and only used in hospitals by trained medical staff workers. New EKG machines that are compact and portable are used by EMR staffs in ambulances, while transporting critical care heart patients. A critical heart patient can be monitored by a portable EKG machine in an ambulance and the EKG results can be sent ahead of the patient to the hospital, for doctor evaluation before the ambulance arrives. Doctors waiting at the hospital are better prepared to treat the patient immediately upon arrival. Portable EKG machines are also valuable screening tools for home-based patients with heart conditions. They are capable of recording heart activity for longer periods of time, during normal activities, and are easy for the patient or home-care provider to operate.

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An electrocardiogram is also known as an EKG or an ECG in medical terminology. In simple terms, it is a harmless and pain-free test that measures and records heart rhythm. It can detect electrical activity, as it passes through the various parts of the heart and it can record both regular and irregular heartbeats. Once the heart rate is detected it can be displayed on either a monitor or on graph paper that the physician can read and interpret for the patient.

An EKG machine detects heart activity through electrodes that are placed on the bare skin of a patient. It takes about minutes to perform the test. EKG machines can assist doctors in revealing a variety of health problems such as:

· rapid heart beat

· abnormally decreased heart beat

· irregular pumping of the heart

· abnormal heart muscle size

· heart birth defects

· the presence of heart disease located in the heart valves

· heart attack (past or present)

Doctors might recommend that a patient have an EKG test done either as a tool for diagnosing for screening the early warning signs of heart disease, or to determine the source of a patient’s symptoms. When no symptoms are present, doctors typically only order EKG tests for patients that have a family history of heart disease in their immediate family. Some common symptoms that would cause a physician to order the test are:

· breathing problems

· chest pain

· fatigue

· uneven heart beat

· abnormal heart sounds

Lastly, EKG tests can also be used by doctors to monitor the effectiveness of heart treatments, such as medical devices or medications. Special EKG machines can be utilized so that doctors are able to monitor the heart rate of a patient over longer periods of time. These EKG machines are portable and can be worn by the patient throughout the day.

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For heart patients that experience frequent abnormal heartbeats, portable EKG machines that are now available for home use can be a comforting alternative. When heart patients inconveniently have to visit a doctor’s office to have an EKG test, results are not always accurate based on the timing of the diagnostic test. There are several benefits to using a portable home EKG monitoring device that include being able to measure your heartbeat rate from your home, having access to heart reading activity during your routine daily activities, and most of all, substantially reducing your medical costs.

Monitoring Your EKG from the Comfort of Your Home

When given the option, most patients would prefer to be able to monitor their medical conditions from their home environment. Portable and wireless EKG machines have made this possible with the help of current and advanced technology. Today, heart patients can actually monitor their heart rates for an entire twenty-four hour period, and wireless technology enables patients to have results even while they are asleep. These home devices can then transmit the results, directly from the homes of the patients, through the internet to their medical doctor.

Measuring Heart Irregularities During Daily Routine Activities

Measuring heart activity during regular daily activities is an important factor that cannot be underestimated. This type of monitoring is much more accurate when compared to results taken in a medical office or hospital. A monitor that is able to record your heart rate when you are doing daily tasks like driving, or doing simple household tasks, provides your healthcare provider with a more realistic assessment of your irregular heart activity.

Reducing Medical Costs

Hospital costs are expensive today, even for patients that are covered by a health insurance plan. A home portable EKG machine costs very little compared to an overnight hospital stay. Portable EKG machines are easy to use and some insurance companies may even compensate their clients for a portion of the cost.

Fortunately, healthcare consumers have a variety of options today in terms of managing their home health care needs. With the increase of home medical products on the market, patients are now able to benefit from the many advantages that are now possible due to modern technology.

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The debate is still going on as to whether or not cell phones can cause harmful radiation and ultimately cause cancer. Based on research conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, currently, the primary cause of death in the U.S. is heart disease. Someone in the country suffers from heart attack related medical condition about every thirty-four seconds. However, recently some research has demonstrated that cell phones, smart phones in particular, uploaded with certain applications can assist in saving lives.

Advancement of current mobile phone technology is now enabling applications that can turn you smart phone into a transmitting device for your own personal EKG results. SHL Telemedicine, a company that is integrating a personal health care technology to mobile devices has created a new medical instrument that is referred to as a “smartheart”. This gadget allows individuals to monitor their heart activity in real-time using a compact, portable EKG machine that conveniently hooks directly into their smart phone.

Traditionally, medical EKG machines use multiple monitors that are attached to a patient’s chest while they are lying down. Smartheart only utilizes one monitor and can be done while the patient is in an upright position. In addition, smartheart’s technology allows a patient to record hospital quality EKG readings and within seconds they are able to transmit the results to their physician or cardiologist via their smart phone.

The cost of the smartheart EKG device is around five hundred dollars. The application download for the smart phone is free and it is currently available on cell devices such as BlackBerry, IPhone, and Android. It is connected wirelessly and can be configured within seconds of being downloaded. Once activated, it will produce a visual display of results and provide users with an option to email the results directly to their doctor.

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In an effort to cut response time for patients that are having a heart attack, ambulances are equipping themselves with advanced EKG technology so that they are able to recognize if a patient is having a severe heart attack. The most severe heart attack is known as an ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). This type of heart attack is when there is total blockage in a coronary artery. This program will enable EMR staff to immediately access a situation where time is of the utmost importance. A spokesperson from The American Heart Association (AMA) stated that implementing this type of program can prevent severe damage to the heart and ultimately save many lives.

The AMA has estimated that there are approximately 400,000 patients in the United States that are victims of STEMI each year. If emergency care is not performed within ninety minutes from the onset of STEMI, and the blockage in the heart is not eliminated, patients are likely to suffer from long term disability or death. The mission of this project is to equip as many ambulances as they can with twelve-lead electrocardiograms.

In rural areas, smaller hospitals are not equipped to do an emergency angioplasty. The time that it takes EMR professionals to transport a patient to a larger qualified hospital facility is crucial. With these newer EKGs, emergency medical workers are able to apply the leads to a patient and with a push of a button can immediately transmit EKG results to the receiving hospital. Emergency hospital staff can immediately begin to prepare for an angioplasty and are ready to begin medical treatment upon the patient’s arrival, with no additional EKG readings necessary. Previously, another EKG reading would be done when the patient reached the hospital.

The cost for each of these EKG machines will cost approximately twenty-five thousand dollars. Medical professionals believe that the cost is well worth the investment since research has proved that equipping ambulances with twelve-lead EKG machines can reduce anywhere from ten minutes to an hour of time that is needed for a patient to receive treatment and can ultimately save their lives.

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Most people think that EKG tests are only available in hospitals and or in medical offices. However, there is an ambulatory EKG monitor, commonly known as a Holter monitor (named after its inventor, Dr. Norman J. Holter), that is portable and mobile, and can be worn by a patient outside of a medical facility.
This cardiac monitor enables doctors to monitor a patient for an extended period of time. It can be worn for a time period of 24 hours up to a month. It can produce more accurate results than a traditional EKG because it monitors the heart’s reaction to everyday stress and activities. For this reason, doctors say that it provides a more thorough assessment of the way the heart functions.

An ambulatory EKG uses as few as three electrodes to record data. It is designed to diagnose heart conditions that would be difficult to observe with a traditional EKG machine. A patient with an occasional arrhythmia is more easily diagnosed and treated which can help a patient to avoid further complications.

A patient wearing a Holter monitor can record data by simply pressing a button. Doctors instruct their patients to use the device to begin recording whenever they believe that there is a change in their cardiac rate. Patients are normally required to keep a journal to record any pertinent information, such as the symptom experienced, what physical activity was taking place when the symptom occurred, the exact date and time a symptom occurred, and how long the symptoms lasted.

The information provided to a physician from a patient’s journal records and from the recording of the Holter monitor can diagnose or rule out carious cardiac conditions such as:

· Bradycardia
· Atrial fibrillation
· Ventricular tachycardia
· Multifocal atrial tachycardia
· Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

The Holter monitor poses no risks to the patient, and is relatively easy to use. It is important that patients stay in contact with their physicians and avoid getting the monitor wet.

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The leading cause of death in the United States is from a heart attack (myocardial infarction) which is the result of an interruption of blood flow through the heart due to a blockage in a coronary artery. Both males and females are at risk for heart disease and a large amount of the population will likely suffer from a form of the disease at some point in their lifetime.

The heart is the most important organ in the body, and heart problems can be more vital than practically any other health condition. Fatal heart attacks can often be prevented, even in people who are high-risk patients by maintaining healthy lifestyle choices and by having regular medical visits with a physician.

The American Heart Association (AHA) strongly recommends that individuals who have a genetic family history of heart disease take preventative measures by refraining from smoking, exercising regularly, following a nutritious diet to maintain a healthy weight, and by having regular EKG testing.

To ensure the health of one’s heart, annual exams should include:

· Checking blood pressure
· A complete blood test
· Stress test (with the patient hooked up to and EKG machine)

EKG machines are not only used as preventative diagnostic tools. They also can aid doctors and other medical professionals in post-heart attack treatment. On the occasion that a patient unknowingly has a heart attack, the ECG waves are able to detect signs of a previous attack, thereby providing valuable information that could assist doctors and patients in preventing a more severe attack at a later time. In addition, EKG machines are also used to evaluate the damage of a heart attack by recording the duration and strength of the electrical signals produced by the heart and how quickly the heart pumps blood through the body.

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The first EKG machine was developed by Augustus Waller in 1877. The machine’s primary purpose was to measure and interpret both the rhythm and heart-rate of the heart muscle and to graph the heart’s electrical activity.

Today, EKG machines are a valuable diagnostic tool that enables doctors to diagnose the factors that cause heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. EKG machines allow doctors to detect a variety of abnormalities before a treatment plan is provided for a patient. When the heart is healthy, the electrical current that pumps through the heart contracts and pushers blood through the body. When these electric signals are abnormal, a patient’s heart is not able to function properly.

An EKG test is painless and typically free of any complications. However, it is extremely important that physicians are informed about any medications a patient is taking. Depending on the individual circumstances of the patient, some physicians may order an EKG stress test. An EKG stress test differs from a typical EKG test due to the fact that it requires the patient to exercise either on a treadmill or on a stationary bicycle while they are hooked up to the EKG machine. A stress test can be a valuable diagnostic tool for physicians since it can evaluate the heart when at times when it requires more oxygen.

Today, most EKG machines incorporate 12-15 electrodes that are strategically placed on areas of the legs, arms, and chest. The electrodes transmit the heart signals directly to the EKG machine and the heart activity is graphically recorded in a sequence of waveforms. The three waveforms are referred to as; P, QRS, and T. Each waveform provides specific diagnostic information:

· P Waves – Calculate the activity in the heart’s atria

· QRS Waves – Measure the ventricular activity of the heart

· T Waves – Represent ventricles that are renewed

Doctors typically scan for any abnormalities in the direction, duration, and amplitude of the waveforms that are recorded during the test before diagnosing a patient.

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EKG Tests cannot always detect artery problems while a patient is in a restful state. AN EKG test that is not combined with the element of exercise can often be inconclusive by showing minimal symptoms or normal results. Therefore, a stress test is that implements a treadmill is usually required to determine efficient medical testing results. Heart disease symptoms are more evident when the heart is exposed to stress through exercise.

Stress tests are commonly ordered for patients that show symptoms, or have a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD). They are also used to determine blood pressure rates in patients with borderline hypertension or to determine irregular heartbeats. Physicians also may also recommend a stress test if a patient complains of shortness of breath or unusual fatigue.

Unlike healthy arteries that dilate when exposed to exercise, an artery that is blocked or narrowed and does not dilate properly and can deliver too much or too little blood to the heart muscle. A reduced flow of blood can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest discomfort.

A treadmill stress test is normally conducted in an exercise laboratory that has an EKG machine and a treadmill. The physician or technician attaches the EKG machine electrodes to the patient’s shoulders, hips, and chest. Initially, the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate are recorded by the EKG machine while they are at rest. The treadmill is initially set at a slow speed and the slope and inclination on the machine are typically increased every few minutes. The EKG is displayed on the monitor during the duration of the stress test and results are graphed and recorded on paper every minute.

During an EKG machine stress test, a medical professional closely monitors the patient’s EKG pattern, blood pressure, heart rate, and any changes in the patient’s appearance or condition. They may choose to stop the test prematurely if any serious conditions arise, such as chest pain, a drop or rise in blood pressure, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

Preliminary results are usually given to the patient immediately. The full test results are usually available in a few days. Physicians may use the test results to diagnose heart disease or to monitor or regulate an existing condition.

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