Hospital Equipment

As medical professionals, we all know the importance of keeping equipment in good condition. It ensures the safety and welfare of patients, reduces stress on healthcare providers, and reduces wasted resources. Medical warming cabinets require regular attention. These cabinets safely warm fluids, solutions, and blankets. However, they require preventative maintenance to operate properly. Regular Cleaning Keeping the cabinet clean can extend its lifespan. Clean glassware within the cabinets preven...

Healthcare facilities perform many important functions that impact the health and well-being of the communities they serve. One crucial function provided by many large healthcare facilities, especially hospitals, is surgery. Surgeries typically take place in operating rooms full of equipment that medical professionals from all disciplines should understand. Fortunately, we’ve created a complete guide to operating room equipment to provide a basic understanding of common instruments, equipm...

Health-care facilities such as hospitals perform many important procedures. However, the procedure that allows all other procedures to safely occur is cleaning and sterilizing. If a health-care facility isn’t a clean environment with sterile tools, then staff, patients, and visitors run the risk of experiencing procedural complications, illness, and more. Sterility assurance monitoring prevents this from happening. Keep reading to learn what it is. The Steps of Sterility Assurance Monitori...

Everyone needs good lighting to work efficiently. Nowhere is that more true than in an operating room. In operating rooms and other medical practices, good, clear lighting can mean the difference between a smooth procedure and a complicated one. We dive further into the importance of clear lighting in the OR below. Proper Surgical Lighting Is Vital for Patient Safety Strong, clear surgical lighting contributes to patient safety because it enables surgeons to accurately identify structures and pe...

As a medical professional, you understand the importance of providing your patients with the best equipment. Your surgical table is no exception. You rely on this piece of equipment for every procedure, which is why it must remain in top condition. Unfortunately, this equipment can’t last forever. Keep reading to learn about some signs that it's time to replace your surgical table and what you should look for when purchasing a new one. Visible Damage or Wear and Tear The most obvious sign ...

Hospitals must always be prepared for emergencies, and crash carts can greatly help. These carts contain emergency equipment that nurses and other medical staff can use to save a life. However, not all crash carts are the same. Depending on your hospital's needs, you may require a specific type of crash cart or more than one. We’ll discuss five different types of crash carts for your hospital. Although this isn’t an extensive list, it provides a basic understanding of crash cart opti...

Most people associate the sound of beeping machines with hospitals. The cause of that beeping is often some type of patient monitoring system. Different systems work in various hospital wings and other facilities to provide patients with effective care. If you’re looking for a new monitoring system, Future Health Concepts can help. Keep reading to understand how patient monitors work and key things to know as you look for a new system. Overview of Patient Monitors and Their Uses in Medical...

Anesthesia machines may seem like a medical mystery to anyone who isn’t an anesthesiologist. They are complex pieces of equipment that are essential for providing safe and effective anesthesia during surgery. But what are the basics of anesthesiology, and how do anesthesia machines work? We explore these key questions and break down the machine’s process below. Gas Supply and Pressure Regulators Medical gases, such as oxygen, air, and nitrous oxide, power anesthesia machines. These g...

The term medical device is very broad, encompassing all devices medical personnel use to treat, diagnose, and prevent a medical disease or condition without chemical actions on the body. We can break down these devices into three classes. Class I include low-risk devices, such as bandages and IV poles. Class II includes intermediate-risk devices, like CT scanners and patient monitors, and Class III is any high-risk device, like pacemakers and spinal stents. All medical facilities need a combinat...

Patient transport stretchers are important in any hospital or healthcare facility. They help medical staff transfer patients from one place to another safely and efficiently. However, they face issues that can hinder their effectiveness. We’ll discuss four common issues with patient transport stretchers and provide solutions for your facility. Uncomfortable Mattresses Since these stretches are designed for transport, comfort is not the top priority for manufacturers. They assume that since...

As healthcare professionals, we know the importance of intravenous I.V. therapy in many medical procedures. I.V. fluids and medications can stabilize the body's blood volume, electrolyte balance, and temperature. However, administering cold I.V. fluids can adversely affect a patient. This is where I.V. fluid warming cabinets come into play. We’ll share four things to know about I.V. fluid warming cabinets. Maintain Stable Fluid Temperatures The primary function of I.V. fluid warming cabine...

Deciding how to invest your facility’s income when your practice needs new equipment can be intimidating, especially in the medical industry’s current climate of shrinking profit margins. However, a lack of revenue does not decrease the need for new tools and equipment, so many department managers and facility owners are left with an important decision. Which is better to invest in—new or renovated equipment? To help you better allocate your facility’s monetary resources,...

Many people consider the sterile processing department as the beating heart of a hospital. They clean and sterilize all the soiled equipment used in various procedures and surgeries to ensure they’re ready to use for the next case. The entire sterilization process is a lengthy one, but one of the most important pieces of sterilization equipment is the autoclave sterilizer. An autoclave typically uses steam to kill bacteria and viruses and decontaminate equipment. However, autoclaves come i...

The saying surgical precision exists for a reason—surgeons undergo extensive training to perform delicate procedures with pinpoint accuracy. However, without surgical lights, conducting these life-saving surgeries wouldn’t be nearly as possible or easy. These lights illuminate surgical sites so surgeons can see clearly for extended periods of time. Because some operations take hours to perform, these lights have to be up for the challenge. If you’re perusing the surgical light ...

Early medical stretchers resembled a cot and were most often used by soldiers during wars. Today, medical stretchers have gone far beyond wooden frames and linens. Modern stretchers prioritize comfort and stability for patients. While all stretchers serve the same purpose, they’re not all the same. Let’s take a look at the different types of medical stretchers and their uses to help you pick the best stretcher for your facility. Basket Stretchers Emergency personnel use basket stretc...

The OR is subject to germs and bacteria, so keeping a clean, sterile environment is of the utmost importance. Handwashing is a critical part of that sterilization process, and while scrub sinks may seem like simple devices, using them is nonnegotiable. Normal sinks can accumulate too much bacteria and require too much contact, but not every scrub sink is fit for the job, either. There are a few key things you need to look for when choosing a scrub sink for your OR. Sink Material The material of ...

Maintaining normothermia, increasing absorption rate, and decreasing recovery times are just a few of the many benefits that come with warming injection fluids. As a result, fluid warmers are common yet vital machines in medical facilities worldwide, with many makes and models to choose from. Despite the overwhelming number of warmers out there, this doesn’t reduce the need for quality warming cabinets, as selecting the right one is equally important. To help you narrow your options, let&#...

Endoscopy monitors and recording equipment are essential for several types of facilities and doctors – so how do you choose the right types for your needs? There are a few questions you may begin by asking, including: How many connections does it have? What type of connections does it include? How large is the screen size? Is the picture in HD? Is the monitor bright enough? These questions become even more difficult to sift through when your facility has a tight budget. Thankfully, Future ...

Being a medical professional means wanting to provide the very best possible care for your patients. Keeping them comfortable and as pain-free as possible are important aspects of why blanket warmers and fluid warmers are essential in a medical setting. Outpatient Surgery’s article Patient Warming’s Not-So-Obvious Benefits highlights some reasons to warm patients: Reduce anxiety Increase patient comfort Reduce bleeding Reduce chances for cardiac problems Less anesthesia required to p...

Blanket warming cabinets help to provide better patient care on many levels. They provide a safer and easier method to reduce the physical and psychological stresses of surgery through the use of warm blankets. Physical Benefits of Blanket Warmers Pre-warming the patient is vitally important before entering surgery. Mayo Clinic staff reports that general anesthesia can cause shivering and potential body temperature levels to drop, making a warm blanket essential to patients for any type of proce...

Are your patients warm enough during surgery? According to a study done at the Cleveland Clinic, patients who are warmed using forced air warming may have their body temperatures elevated by the end of their surgery, but some still show signs of hypothermia during surgery. According to the results presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, nearly all patients were at 36°C or higher at the end of surgery, but that hypothermia was surprisingly common du...

Having a blanket warmer and fluid warming cabinet in a surgery center or hospital is crucial to providing not only patient comfort, but also patient safety. When patients are having a procedure done in an icy-cold operating room, they tend to be cold and generally feel nervous about what’s to come. Not only does a warm blanket make the patient feel more at ease, it also protects them from the brisk air accompanied with any surgery. Warming blankets is only one of the many uses for a warm...

Every year, millions of Americans visit their doctor to monitor and control their blood pressure, yet only half have their condition under control. Having high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, chronic heart failure, and kidney disease, which is why accurately measuring and tracking a patient’s blood pressure is so crucial during any office visit. It’s also a vital part of treating a patient during an emergency situation. The Beginning of Measuring Blood Pr...

In the medical world, there are many challenges when it comes to cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing equipment. Having an ultrasonic cleaner is the perfect weapon in order to protect medical personnel and patients from possible infections due to pathogens that linger on the instruments after a procedure. Ultrasonic cleaners work on the principle of cavitation, where ultrasonic transducers create billions of air bubbles in an ultrasonic cleaning solution. These bubbles implode with such a viol...

When most medical professionals think of surgical tables , they often only think of general surgery tables, but there are actually several different types of surgical tables. Here are five types of surgical tables: 1. General Surgery Tables This is the basic surgery table most people think of. A few good things to look for in a general surgery table include: Accessibility – Doctors need the ability to adjust the height in order to gain access to the patient comfortably. Angle adjustment ca...

Steam sterilizers sometimes referred to as steam autoclaves, or just autoclaves are an essential part of the decontamination and sterilization process performed in healthcare facilities. Sterilization is a common practice in medical and laboratory settings where it is vital to destroy microbial life, which could cause contamination, infection, or disease. Steam sterilizers are very effectively at sterilizing because they use pressurized steam at temperatures of about 270 degrees within the chamb...

Is your facility looking to expand its operating room capabilities? Depending on what types of operations may be performed in your operating room, there are several surgical table accessories that could be beneficial to include in your OR. Here’s our list of some of the most beneficial surgical table accessories for your OR: 1. Arm Boards – Arm boards may be one of the most important positioning devices for your procedures. Simple in design and function, arm boards provide vital posi...

In any hospital or surgery center proper sanitation is critical. Proper hygiene and hand washing is key to ensuring patient safety. When considering scrub sinks for you facility, there are a couple things to consider. 1. The size of the sink . It’s important to consider the size of the space it will be utilized to ensure there is still plenty of room to navigate around it. 2. If staff can wash without ever touching the sink. ­ Bacteria can live on many surfaces and cutting out the nee...

Working in a medical facility, you’re probably aware of the upkeep required for many of the machines and systems. While some machines do self-checks, others require manual, hands-on maintenance. Some of these tasks happen daily, weekly, annually, or as needed. But this preventative care will keep your anesthesia machine in optimal operating order, allowing it to not only perform better but also last longer. Here are 6 tips for keeping your anesthesia machine looking and working like new: 1...

The medical community has continued to evolve since its inception. With new techniques, advanced training and education, they have shown dedication and resiliency. Unfortunately, one of the ways that medical facilities have to adapt now is with budget cuts. These facilities are solving this problem in many different areas, one of which is purchasing from qualified refurbished medical equipment sellers. According to a survey put out by Surgical Products Magazine, their readers understood the valu...

Hands are your tools for healing, but if they’re not washed properly, they can also be a transmitter for infection. Surgical site infections greatly contribute to nosocomial infections. Most surgical professionals agree on the importance of good surgical hand-washing practices in infection prevention. Hand transmission is a critical factor in the spread of bacteria, pathogens, viruses, and nosocomial infections in general. Surgical Scrub Techniques in Stainless Steel Sinks There are two me...

It is widely known in the medical community that general anesthetics greatly impair thermoregulation, synchronously reducing the thresholds for vasoconstriction and shivering. While neuraxial anesthesia also impairs central thermoregulatory control, and prevents vasoconstriction and shivering in blocked areas. That’s why anesthesiologists know the importance of blanket and fluid warmers, especially for surgery. Un-warmed anaesthetized patients become hypothermic, typically by 1–2...

If you’re in the market for a surgical scrub sink , you may not know where to start when it comes to comparing sink styles, attributes or manufacturers. By choosing sinks from Future Health Concepts you’ll get a great sink that will perform well, provide a sanitary environment, and last for years to come. Here are some of options available when choosing a quality surgical scrub sink: Stainless steel 304 – In the medical world, the industrial material called stainless steel 304 ...

The hospital stretcher has come along way over the years. Although the function remains the same, advances have helped create a safer and more efficient stretcher. Today, we will show you three hospital stretchers available that provide deluxe transportation features without the deluxe price tag. FHC 7100 Mobilecare Hospital Stretcher This transporting stretcher provides easy transportation of all patients up to 550 lbs. with its total/directional locking casters and brake steer pedal. The 7100 ...

In order to provide the best outcome for your patients, you need to have a quality foundation in your operating room. Future Health Concepts manufactures surgical and operating room tables that are built for today’s procedures and patients. Understanding your hospital and/or surgical center’s needs allows us to provide medical equipment that is versatile and will meet the demanding needs of your practice. FHC1000S Radiographic Top O.R. Table The FHC1000S series surgical table offers ...

Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 13 – 19 this year. This week gives healthcare facilities a great opportunity to renew focus on their patient safety efforts and work to improve their practice through a variety of improved resources. One aspect of patient safety and comfort that is often over-looked is the use of blanket warmers. Blanket warmers provide better patient care on many levels. They provide a safer and easier method to reduce the physical and psychological stresses of surge...

At Future Health Concepts, we offer a full line of Zoll defibrillators as well as Physio Control Lifepaks with a large variety of parameters available to accommodate any patient. In this article we’ll take a look at three of the models we have available and how they can benefit your facility. Zoll Defibrillator : AED Plus For the victims in cardiac arrest that need CPR and a shock, the Zoll automated external defibrillator AED is an ideal choice. As the only AED that can literally see you ...

When choosing a new blanket warmer or fluid warmer there are a lot of features to consider. Conveniences such as a touch screen, remote monitoring, text notifications and more can be helpful for a busy staff, while some facilities might not require all the bells and whistles. In this article we’ll spotlight five blanket and fluid warmers available from Future Health Concepts FHC . 1. FHCSWC24-TS Smart Blanket / Fluid Warmer with LCD Touchscreen 9-14 Blankets First on our list is a blanket ...

Although anesthesia machines haven’t changed that drastically in the last few years, several new features make them safer, easier, and more efficient to use. If you’re searching for a new anesthesia machine or perhaps a refurbished anesthesia machine, here are some tips for making your decision: Proper Safety Features for an Anesthesia Machine If your facility performs surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia as well as muscle relaxation, you'll need to purchase a traditional...

Surgical Site Infections SSI can be very scary for both patient and caregiver. Theycan start with a fever, redness and pain around the affected area, and/or cloudy fluid discharge but can escalate or could even cause death. An estimated 2-5 percent of inpatient surgeries develop an SSI in the United States. These infections can add an additional 7-10 days post-op in the hospital and cost an extra $11,000 - $35,000. While these stats can be scary, there are ways to help prevent these SSIs from ha...

Blanket warmers, also referred to as warming cabinets, have been around for many decades but are now starting to be a more central aspect of medical facilities. Blanket warmers ’ ability to aid in the comfort of patients, prevent hypothermia, and decrease recovery times are some of the reasons these devices are becoming more and more important. Whether you are operating a full-service hospital or want to provide extra comfort to nursing home residents, it is imperative to pick the right ca...

Being a medical professional means wanting to provide the very best possible care for your patients. Keeping them comfortable and as pain-free as possible are important aspects of why blanket warmers are essential in a medical setting, however, blanket warmers provide even more than comfort. By maintaining normothermia throughout a medical procedure and hospital or clinical stay, medical professionals can enhance clinical outcomes, comply with regulatory agencies, and improve patient satisfactio...

In today’s healthcare facilities, steam sterilizers or autoclaves play a very important role. These units are essential to ensure clean and sterile instruments and apparatus for surgeons, dentists and healthcare providers everywhere. This is why it is so imperative that you properly care for and maintain your autoclave - to ensure greater longevity and reliability. Always Use Distilled Water in Your Autoclave One of the most important things to do routinely to increase the longevity of you...

Selecting new or refurbished medical equipment for your medical practice or hospital can be a daunting task. Finding a quality company to buy from can be even more difficult. When refurbished properly, medical equipment can be extremely reliable and offer significant savings to the facility. 4 Questions to Consider The following are some questions that you may want to consider prior to making a decision on the equipment and the company you are thinking of purchasing from: Is there a significant ...

Running any medical practice is expensive. Though the medical field has fewer opportunities to scale back on purchases than other businesses, there are still ways to save money by planning ahead and making smart purchases. One way to do this is by making the decision to purchase refurbished medical equipment instead of buying new. There are many perks to buying refurbished; here are five of the top reasons: 1. Cost Savings It may be the most obvious benefit for buying refurbished medical equipme...

This month, we want to emphasize the importance of ensuring you have all the right parts necessary to maintain your capital medical equipment. One critical piece of equipment to be maintained regularly is a steam sterilizer . These beastly machines are not only strictly regulated, but also rely on being cleaned and calibrated regularly to function properly. After a certain amount of cycles shown in owner's manual , check to see if your sterilizer needs any filters, gaskets, valves, or a PM by a ...

According to the National Hospital Quality Measures Manual, core temperatures outside the normal range pose a risk in all patients undergoing surgery. The Clinical Guidelines for the Prevention of Unplanned Perioperative Hypothermia by the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses has published research that correlates impaired wound healing, adverse cardiac events, increased infection, altered drug metabolism, and coagulopathies with unplanned perioperative hypothermia. Here are some uses and n...

With the economy still building its way back up, most facilities are trying to save as much money as possible when it comes to purchasing medical equipment. Buying a new steam sterilizer such as Steris, Getinge, or Tuttnauer these days can range anywhere from $40,000+. Whilst new sterilizers are always more technologically advanced, they are considered a luxury. When trying to stay economical, refurbished sterilizers are the best option for every facility. Some people are skeptical about buying ...

Whether it is a doctor’s office or a hospital, mobile medical equipment is constantly in use. Medical facilities are generally a fast-paced environment, but does anyone ever stop and think is this mobile equipment sanitary? You can assume most would say no. Contaminants are at large in all these facilities and if personnel aren’t practicing hygiene throughout the whole facility, patients could be at risk. From patient monitors to computer keyboards, it’s important to understand...

Defibrillators are an essential piece of equipment for any medical related facility. They’ve even become commonplace at malls, grocery stores, and other various public places. According to The National Conference of State Legislatures, Each year, more than 250,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest. However, with the development of Automated External Defibrillators AED’s demonstrating the correct steps with audio or visual cues, there is a more efficient way to save lives witho...

At Future Health Concepts, we offer quality new and refurbished patient monitors. Two of our new patient monitors from L&T include the Star 55 and Planet 55 patient monitors. Though these monitors are relatively similar, it is good to know the key differences to ensure your facility’s best purchasing decision. The Planet 55 provides the best construction when it comes to performance and interface with the need for a smaller, lightweight monitor. With its 4 channel, 8.4 high resolution ...

Cleanliness and attention to good hygiene is considered one of the most important aspects of operating a thriving medical facility. For this reason, you will find that most healthcare environments desire stainless steel materials be utilized in much of their equipment. This preference is due to stainless steel’s ability to provide easy cleaning and resistance to collection of bacteria. Unlike most materials, stainless steel doesn’t form cracks or tears and thus avoids storing dirt an...

Blanket and Fluid warming cabinets are valuable to any surgery center and hospital. Warm blankets can be used to restore body temperature or even comfort a patient. How warm you keep your warming cabinet is dependent on whether you are using it for fluids or blankets and should be established by each facility individually. The AORN recommends labeling and dating all fluids as well as posting the appropriate temperature on the side of the cabinet to avoid any confusion. They also recommend regula...

With all that is going on the world and the news lately it is evident to see that buying American made is now more important than ever. In the ever changing economic climate, consumers, including those buying new medical equipment, are paying attention to where goods are made. Future Health Concepts, Inc. is proud that at least 95% of the products we sell are made in America. Whether you needs blanket warmers and scrub sinks or stainless steel products and stretchers rest assured that if you buy...

Surgical tables typically have a weight capacity from 500 lbs to over 1000 lbs. Additional surgical table accessories will help with positioning of bariatric patients. Whether your clinical need is neurology, urology, orthopedic, cardiology or another field ensuring you have the proper weight capacity for your patients is a safety must. Our FHC1000 Series surgical tables offer a 1000 lb weight capacity as well c-arm imaging for nearly every part of the body. This is an important feature to have ...