Telemetry Monitoring

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Hi,

I am looking for some information on cardiac telemetry. What is general ratio of total number of beds to telemetry beds in a hospital? How old are the cardiac telemetry equipment in your hospital? Are the number of telemetry beds increasing or decreasing in general?

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Specializes in Hospitalist.
Hi,

I am looking for some information on cardiac telemetry. What is general ratio of total number of beds to telemetry beds in a hospital? How old are the cardiac telemetry equipment in your hospital? Are the number of telemetry beds increasing or decreasing in general?

On our tele unit here in the Midwest, our patient census in constantly increaseing. We just opened a 4th tele wing and its always in use. The tele unit is the biggest unit in this hospital. Probably about 1/3-1/2 of the total house census. The tele boxes are mildly aged but our new unit of course got new boxes.

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On our tele unit here in the Midwest, our patient census in constantly increaseing. We just opened a 4th tele wing and its always in use. The tele unit is the biggest unit in this hospital. Probably about 1/3-1/2 of the total house census. The tele boxes are mildly aged but our new unit of course got new boxes.

Thanks for replying. Is the expanded unit being used for general surgery patients too or just for cardiac patients? I heard even med/surg patients are being put on telemetry these day for early detection of patient under distress.

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Specializes in Hospitalist.
Thanks for replying. Is the expanded unit being used for general surgery patients too or just for cardiac patients? I heard even med/surg patients are being put on telemetry these day for early detection of patient under distress.

Yeah, we get anything and everything: cardiac stuff, GI bleeds, syncope and falls, traumas, psych pts, ODs, AAAs, post surgical. And you're right, we can potentially get any pt that comes through the ER, including med/surg pts and pts that should have gone to the ICU in the first place. I like the mix of cases, keeps me learning and ready for new stuff everyday, and they are monitored, which is cool too.

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Thanks. Which company are you using for tele units in your hospital? I heard Welch Allyn and Drager have come tele units which even have a color display on the tele units themselves. I reckon they will be convenient when transferring patients within the same network and wouldn't require the patient to be re-hooked to a transport monitor. Have you ever used these units? What is your opinion on them compared to ol' Philips and GE?

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