For first responders, medical transport and for use in hospitals and patient care facilities having the correct equipment to provide accurate patient information is always critical. For patients with cardiac issues, having reliable, compact and portable ultrasound machines will be an essential part of patient care.
When comparing portable ultrasound systems, there will be several factors to keep in mind. Different manufacturers offer different features and functions that will need to be compared in determining the best equipment for specific needs.
Use of Equipment
The first consideration will be the use of the machine. In general, most ultrasounds will be used for vascular, abdominal as well as cardiac echo monitoring and recording. For use within medical facilities rather than outside of the facility, it may make more sense to choose different machines to reflect specialized testing requirements.
On the other hand, for use in first responder situations a general ultrasound that has the capability of providing the reports and information needed for a wide range of health issues is the most practical. Different features such as color displays, the use of Doppler or the ability to quickly switch recording and reporting functions will all be considerations and areas to compare.
The modes, the imaging options and the testing possibilities for the equipment will always be a critical factor. While there is a benefit to having additional testing options, not having the correct testing and reporting features will be limiting as to the use of the machine.
Keep in mind the ease of use for the professionals. Some systems are more intuitive to use than others and training time, compatibility with existing systems in use in the hospital or facility as well as the practical design of the equipment are also issues to review.
Size and Weight
There are many different options when it comes to size and weight of portable ultrasound machines. For first responders this is more critical as storage and moving the equipment to treat patients outside of the vehicle is more of a factor than in a facility.
Most of the new types of technology in ultrasound equipment make these devices very easy to move. About the size of a laptop and with an adjustable screen, the user can set brightness, contrast and tint to be able to effectively see reports, charts, images and information on the screen in a variety of lighting conditions.
Choosing the correct ultrasound machines may include having more than one model, design or option. This allows the technicians to select the correct system for the specific use and patient, providing quality patient care with portable technology.
