There are over 10,000 types of medical devices available according to the World Health Organization. However, it is neither practical nor desirable for every health care facility to acquire every piece of equipment. Medical equipment planning is needed to determine which devices are most necessary.
Nevertheless, for specific diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or therapeutic procedures carried out in most hospitals, certain equipment is necessary. The WHO refers to these collectively as “core medical equipment.”
The core medical equipment needed in any given hospital setting varies based on the requirements in a particular region or locality. Therefore, the following is not an exhaustive list but some suggestions of equipment that can prove most useful in treating patients.
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There are both internal and external defibrillators, both of which help to restart the heart if it is no longer beating as it should. Internal defibrillators are more useful in a hospital setting than in other settings because they require a procedure to open the chest and apply the paddles directly to the cardiac muscle. External defibrillators are helpful in ambulances and other remote situations as well as in a hospital setting because they apply the necessary electric shock without the need to open the chest.
A fetal monitor detects the heartbeat of an unborn baby. If there is a problem with the heartbeat, it may indicate the need for an emergency cesarean section.
Sometimes abbreviated ECG or EKG, an electrocardiograph identifies abnormalities with the rhythm of the heart. It is used to diagnose heart attacks and other conditions that can cause arrhythmia.
Colon cancer is very treatable if caught early. Otherwise, it can spread rapidly and cause premature death. One of the most effective ways of diagnosing it is with a colonoscope, which allows the physician to visualize even asymptomatic abnormalities within the large intestine.
Mike Morgan is a health enthusiast and has written several health articles for various health magazines.
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