Question

How do patients vitals monitoring station work?

Answer 1

Patient vitals monitoring station monitors patient's physiological signals including vital signs such as blood pressure - invasive (IBP - systolic, diastolic, and mean) and non-invasive (NIBP), pulse rate, respiratory rate and body temperature; and electrocardiograph (ECG), blood oxygen saturation (SPO₂), mixed venous oxygenation (SvO2), cardiac output, end-tidal carbondioxide (ETCO2), intracranial pressure, and airway gas concentrations.

Patient monitoring can be rigorously defined as “repeated or continuous observations or measurements of the patient, his or her physiological function, and the function of life support equipment, for the purpose of guiding management decisions, including when to make therapeutic interventions, and assessment of those interventions.” (Hudson, 1985)

A patient monitoring system (PMS) is critical in patient care as it it not only transmits vital physiological signs continuously but also simplifies their measurement and improves the monitoring efficiency. It helps clinical staff to evaluate the patient's condition and make appropriate treatment decisions thereby, facilitating treatment.

The system uses electrodes and multiple sensors for receiving vital physiological signals. Patients are attached to the appropriate monitoring electrodes/pads. The cables are connected to the physiologic monitor which allows patients’ physiologic parameters to be continuously monitored so that changes can be identified. A central station monitor receives, consolidates, and displays the information and a set of monitors that are deployed near the patient (bedside monitors) provide the data from each patient. It is capable of displaying ECG waveforms and other information from any bedside within the system, and is equipped with alarms that are coordinated with those at the bedside monitor.

Vitals monitoring systems are used in hospitals, including in intermediate care/step down units and general medical and surgical areas. Uninterruptible power source, battery backup, good lead/pad/cable connections are required for their functioning. There are different monitoring options available to meet a variety of applications such as critical care, operating room, or transport.