It may be time for your monitoring to take a stand
When purchasing patient monitors there are so many factors, parameters and accessories involved that you may forget one of the most important questions of all: “Where am I going to put it?”
There are several mounting options available for most patient monitors. Whether you need to roll the monitor from room to room or patient to patient, or want it mounted on a wall and off the floor in order to maximize your floor space , there is most likely a viable option to fit your needs.
Let’s go over some of the options and the advantage and disadvantages of patient monitor stands in order to make a more informed decision about the type of mounting that will best suite your requirements.
Rolling Patient Monitor Stand
In our experiences, the rolling stand has been the most requested type of patient monitor stand. These stands generally have 5 or more legs in order to provide the most stable base possible for the monitor. The last thing you want is your patient monitor toppling over because you accidentally backed into it, so the base is a very important part of the construction. The wheels may also have locks on them. The vertical pole can vary in length. On top of the vertical pole there may be a receiver plate attached, which is used with the monitor mounting plate to slide the monitor into to attach it to the stand. The monitor may have a flat aluminum mounting plate attached to either the bottom or the back of the unit. This plate is specific to the brand and model you have. Once mounted to the monitor, the unit can then be attached to the stand by simply sliding the mounting plate into the receiver plate. Some of the receiver plates available can also be tilted up and down to adjust the viewing angle for the user.
The stand may also have a basket attached to hold accessories like extra BP cuffs, etc. Other accessories are available, too, depending on the manufacturer of the stand.
The biggest advantage to this type of stand is the sheer mobility of it. Being able to take a self contained unit wherever needed without any hassle is a big reason why so many customers request rolling stands. One of the disadvantages is the threat of the unit tipping over, however this is lessened depending on the quality and stability of the stand itself. Another disadvantage is the footprint of the stand itself, because it does take up valuable floor space. If floor space is a problem, keep reading….
Patient Monitor Wall Mount
In our experiences, the rolling stand has been the most requested type of patient monitor stand. These stands generally have 5 or more legs in order to provide the most stable base possible for the monitor. The last thing you want is your patient monitor toppling over because you accidentally backed into it, so the base is a very important part of the construction. The wheels may also have locks on them. The vertical pole can vary in length. On top of the vertical pole there may be a receiver plate attached, which is used with the monitor mounting plate to slide the monitor into to attach it to the stand. The monitor may have a flat aluminum mounting plate attached to either the bottom or the back of the unit. This plate is specific to the brand and model you have.
Once mounted to the monitor, the unit can then be attached to the stand by simply sliding the mounting plate into the receiver plate. Some of the receiver plates available can also be tilted up and down to adjust the viewing angle for the user. The stand may also have a basket attached to hold accessories like extra BP cuffs, etc. Other accessories are available, too, depending on the manufacturer of the stand.
The biggest advantage to this type of stand is the sheer mobility of it. Being able to take a self contained unit wherever needed without any hassle is a big reason why so many customers request rolling stands. One of the disadvantages is the threat of the unit tipping over, however this is lessened depending on the quality and stability of the stand itself. Another disadvantage is the footprint of the stand itself, because it does take up valuable floor space. If floor space is a problem, keep reading….
Rail Hook
The rail hook option may be a viable option for facilities that transport patient often and want patient monitoring from OR to recovery, etc. There is little complexity to this option, as it is exactly as described. This option is simply an attachment that mounts either to the back or bottom of the monitor, and has 2 large hooks that are used to drape the monitor over the rails of the stretcher. Advantages include its portability and ease of use specific to it’s intended use. The disadvantages are that it is very limited in it’s ability to be utilized for anything other than a stretcher rail. But with the rail hook option, you could always set the patient monitor on a…
Shelf or Side Table
The side table or shelf option is a real simple and (usually) low cost solution to having a place to set the patient monitor on. It’s your choice, decor, etc. If you want a non clinical look this may be the way to go, as you can have a shelf designed for you by a woodworker, buy a pre-configured shelf or find the perfect side table or bedside table to act as a stand. We must warn you, though, this can be a very costly decision. Our service department has seen countless disasters when a patient monitor was not disconnected from the patient completely and the patient monitor has come crashing to floor when the patient is being transported. These catastrophes can be avoided with either training and/or a viable solution to securing the monitor to the shelf or stand (never alter the equipment from manufacturer specification, this includes tampering with the case, etc). In any case, this may be a solution, as well. Also, with this and any other monitor mounting option, make sure the mounting system or shelf/stand is able to safely hold the weight of your monitor.
We hoped this has helped shed some light on questions you may have had and hopefully help you in making a good decision for your facility. If you have any further questions please contact us. We would certainly be happy to assist you with information and/or a quotation for the mounting options you need.
