ECRI evaluates patient monitoring systems

3 February 2005

Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA. ECRI an independent, nonprofit health services research agency offers purchasing guidance on six physiologic monitoring systems in its January 2005 issue of Health Devices.

The patient monitoring systems were evaluated and rated for seven separate applications, including the critical care unit, emergency department, intermediate care unit and general medical/surgical floor, two operating room applications, postanaesthesia care unit, and transport. Bedside monitors within each monitoring system were also given individual ratings.

ECRI’s physiologic monitoring system study helps healthcare facilities choose the most appropriate system to best suit the facilities’ needs. Monitoring systems from Dräger, GE Healthcare, Nihon Kohden, Philips, Spacelabs, and Welch Allyn were among those tested. The study focused primarily on adaptability, alarm implementation, and human factors design. While the systems performed well against the majority of criteria, ECRI identified several key differences in specific features and performance areas that have the potential to impact patient safety and work flow. The publication also includes an in-depth look at issues related to monitoring system alarm notification and enhancement. 

For information contact ECRI:
5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA; tel: +1 (610) 825-6000, ext. 5891; fax: (610) 834-1275: email communications@ecri.org; website www.ecri.org.

ECRI’s European office can be contacted at info@ecri.org.uk, ECRI’s Asia-Pacific office can be contacted at s.e.asia@ecri.org, and ECRI’s Middle Eastern office can be contacted at middleeast@ecri.org.