CT stands for computed tomography, and is a method of medical imaging that uses a computer processed tomography to generate a 3-dimensional image. It works by taking a series of 2-dimensional images of the inside of an object, using a single axis of rotation, thereby creating a three dimensional view.

While early CT scanners used an axial or traverse plane, modern scanners can process a higher volume of data that can be reformatted into various planes, resulting in a volumetric representation of a structure.

Medical professionals use CT scanner in a variety of disciplines, but they are mainly a diagnostic tool to supplement other imaging techniques like x-rays and ultrasounds. Some doctors have started using CT scanners to screen for diseases like colon cancer, but alternative uses for these scanners have become somewhat controversial because they expose patients to higher levels of radiation.

Modern medical equipment like the GE Hi-Speed DXI and Philips Acqsim CT Scanner are often used to scan a patients head, and can detect a number of abnormalities, from brain injury to skull fractures, aneurysms to brain tumors. They can also be used to determine hearing problems caused by diseases of the temporal bone, and to evaluate the extent of soft tissue and bone damage in patients suffering from facial trauma.

Lung scans are also commonly done with CT scanners, particularly for detecting changes in the inside of the lungs, since normal two-dimensional x-rays cannot show such defects. In addition, CT scans are used for detecting airspace diseases like lung cancer or pneumonia. A CT angiography can be used to identify pulmonary embolisms and coronary artery disease.

Many hospitals are now looking to update their CT scanning equipment, and can often find relatively new, previously owned equipment online. Scanners like the GE Hi-Speed DXI and Philips Acqsim CT Scanner are popular choices.

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2. Insurance company reimbursements are way down over the last decade. The future doesn’t look too bright either with another 40% in cuts to medicare rates slated over the next ten years.

3. You may never reach your break even point on new medical equipment. With the costs so exorbitant and the depreciation fast, you may find that your fancy new equipment costs you more than you made with it. We get calls from banks every day looking to unload repossessed medical equipment. Most of these come from doctors that simply can’t afford to make the payments on these overpriced and under-reimbursed pieces of equipment.

4. You never know when the next big change in technology may be coming along. For example not very long ago analog x-ray and mammography were the norm, now they are nearly obsolete – in just a few short years.

5. Plain and simple….it’s just a waste of money..you will get the same diagnostic results from a pre-owned machine at a fraction of the cost. The money you save can be used on little drinks with umbrellas on a sunny beach somewhere!

More and more schools are adapting their emergency plans to include lifesaving equipment. In fact, you may have noticed defibrillators popping up in public buildings, shopping malls and almost any place where crowds of people gather. Rather than having a CPR-trained staff member on the premises, many schools have opted for a more reliable emergency plan.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical impulses in the heart unexpectedly misfire, making the heart unable to pump blood. Since unconsciousness soon follows, many people would die without an electrical shock from a defibrillator. In fact, only one out of 20 cardiac arrest victims survive. While calling 911 or using CPR can save lives, 365,000 Americans will still die this year from sudden cardiac arrest, and 7,000 of these victims will be young people.

A recent study from the American Heart Association showed that among the 1710 American high schools with automatic electronic defibrillators on site, nearly two thirds of cardiac arrest victims survived. This is twelve times higher than the typical 5 percent of victims who normally survive outside of a hospital.

School athletes are far more likely to suffer from cardiac arrest than other students. At schools with defibrillators, 14 out of 36 student cases of cardiac arrest last year affected athletes, and nine of these students survived. Waiting for an EMT to arrive can take anywhere from 6 t 9 minutes, but for every minute without defibrillation, the odds of survival fall by 7-10 percent. Sadly, a victim of cardiac arrest who is not defibrillated within 8 to ten minutes has little chance of survival.

Find out if your child’s school has a defibrillator, and make sure key staff members know how to use it. It could be make the difference between life and death.

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The size of these anesthesia monitor allows for trouble-free transit and eliminates the need to connect and disconnect leads, and its durable design creates a dependable solution for air transport. The compact system of the DASH 3000 integrates a printer, power supply and transformer, making it a highly maneuverable package. Accessible, interchangeable batteries allow for a quick change out without losing any functionality. GE’s “smart battery” management system features 4-5 hour run time and can be recharged in 2-4 hours.

These advanced capabilities make these anesthesia monitors fully mobile throughout a medical facility without compromising performance. A secure mount also makes them perfect for bedside monitoring. A standard feature on the Dash 3000 is a 3 & 5 lead ECG/EKG, a pulse oximeter, and a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor, as well as respiration control and a dual-temperature monitor. It can also support two invasive blood pressure monitors, including mainstream CO2, and a full arrhythmia 12-lead ECG.

For reporting, these thoroughly modern anesthesia monitors include 24 hour trending and productivity-enhancing software, including online help, as well as cardiac, drug dose and pulmonary calculations. A 9” color LCD screen ensures easy viewing, and displays up to ten parameters and seven waveforms.

Whether it is used in the ER, OR, internal medicine or cardiology, the Dash 3000 is a powerful anesthesia monitor for your hospital or clinical setting. It’s a great tool for paramedics too.

Visit Absolute Medical Equipment to find out more about the GE Dash 3000 Pro and other and used medical equipment products.

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One of the more popular blood pressure monitors on the market is the Omron HEM-790IT. According Amazon’s user reviews, this monitor is considered the one of the best available for the price. This self-inflating, upper-arm blood pressure monitor gets high marks for accuracy and software functionality. It even allows multiple users to track their blood pressure, and the cuff fits a wide range of arm sizes. Using a PC connection, it allows users to chart their blood pressure on a computer using a bundled software package. This function makes it easy for home users to track changes in their BP, and upload this information for their healthcare providers. While the software is incompatible with Mac computers, some users found it difficult to run on Windows Vista as well.
Excellent for users who are on a budget, this blood pressure monitor is available for about $75. Another version, the Omron HEM-650 Wrist monitor is available for $40, and gets high marks for convenience, but may not be as accurate as the upper arm cuff.

A&D Medical LifeSource UA-787EJ

Known as the best home blood pressure monitor, the A&D Medical LifeSource UA-787EJ sells for about $70. It is a full-featured, self-inflating monitor that scores high on accuracy. Using A&D Medical’s “Easy Fit” cuff, the upper arm cuff on this monitor is two inches larger than most medium-sized cuffs, which allows it to fit more arm sizes. This blood pressure monitor can store up to sixty readings, with date and time, and features three programmable alarms to remind users to take a reading. It can also take an irregular heartbeat into account and compensate for that condition. A wrist-cuff version of this blood pressure monitor, the Omron HEM-650 Wrist, is also available for about $40.

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Fraud problems persist, often from well known medical equipment suppliers who sell scooters or power wheelchairs, known as durable medical equipment. Because so many seniors are convinced by the advertised promises of these companies, who claim that Medicare will pay for medical equipment.

In some extreme fraud cases, after consumers had already agreed to the medical equipment, it was never delivered, or the wrong equipment arrived. Even in these cases, Medicare was falsely billed.

Attorneys have even coined the phrase “scooter fraud” for power wheelchair providers who use unscrupulous tactics to create a market for their products. Many times, Medicare is billed for a power wheelchair when a much less expensive scooter is provided. Government lawyers involved in these cases have alleged that the companies would bill Medicare, Medicaid or insurers for the power wheelchairs, which are double the cost of scooters. Then, they would collect millions in profits.

Recently, the Justice Department has begun an effort to combat Medicare fraud, known as the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT). As a protection against fraud, durable medical equipment suppliers must complete a form that certifies the medical necessity of the equipment. Part of the form can only be completed by a doctor, but some medical equipment companies still hire their own doctors to help with the forms before submitting them on behalf of beneficiaries.

Even though Medicare pays for 80 percent of most medical equipment (with the remaining 20 percent being paid by a supplemental insurer or Medicaid), consumers should be cautious of any company that tries to offer them equipment they don’t need. It is safe to assume that when this is happening, the company is more concerned about billing Medicare than they are with the customer’s healthcare.

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This lightweight transmitter takes advantage of exclusive technological advancements and helps to minimize false calls while maximizing the quality of patient care, offering unparalleled accuracy and reliability. Using Dual V leads, with 8 simultaneous ECG capabilities, this device offers the most reliable, motion-tolerant data acquisition available in patient vital signs monitors. This transmitter is equipped with battery status indicators; electrode failure alerts and includes an alarm- pause breakthrough feature for added safety and reliability.

The GE Marquette Apex Pro Telemetry Transmitter, now available at Absolute Medical Equipment, is a positively inspired solution to sub-acute care. Absolute Medical Equipment specializes in new and used medical equipment

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