Three reasons for recommending the use of disposable ECG leads

Three reasons for recommending the use of disposable ECG leads

Preventing infection has long been a top concern for clinicians, who have struggled to stop the spread of germs in patient populations.
With studies showing high levels of bacterial contamination in certain reusable medical consumables, U.S. hospitals have increasingly turned to single-patient monitoring consumables such as disposable noninvasive blood pressure cuffs, disposable oxygen probes, and disposable cardiac conductance wires. Of course, many hospitals continue to use many other low-cost reusable supplies.

Therefore, the use of disposable ECG leads can prevent the risk of infection. In addition to this, the use of disposable ECG is recommended for three reasons:
 

1. Improve patient care and satisfaction
Consumer-oriented health care trends and the role of patients in deciding where to receive care have intensified competition among health care provider organizations. Medical institutions want to provide the best possible service to their patients and strive to be recognized as high quality in their communities. As a result, these institutions put patient care and safety first in every choice they make. This includes the use of the best quality capital equipment as well as the best quality accessories.
High quality disposable ECG wires can enhance the quality and safety of nursing services in patient medical institutions. As patients become increasingly concerned about nosocomial infection rates and complications, it becomes even more important to avoid getting infected from using repetitive supplies.
 

2. Clinical efficacy and employee satisfaction

Another disadvantage of reusable ECG wires over disposable ECG is their durability and reliability. The internal wires wear down over time, causing an inaccurate ECG. Clinicians may spend a lot of time and effort looking for a faulty monitor that is actually caused by a faulty ECG wire.

When the ECG fails, the clinician must remove the ECG wire and replace it with a new one, which may prolong care and cause increased discomfort for the patient. It is important to note that reducing patient exposure can improve patient satisfaction and reduce the risk of hospital admission.

After one study found that one-time ECG leads to significantly lower error rates than repetitive ECG leads, the researchers concluded that one-time ECG "saves nurse time, reduces error rates, and improves patient safety."

3. Standardization and economy of supply

Health systems and hospitals are increasingly working to standardize supplies to reduce complexity and cost. By standardizing a brand of disposable ECG wires, the inventory management process can be simplified while reducing storage requirements.

In conclusion, the use of disposable ECG leads can bring profound benefits to hospitals, doctors, nurses and patients.