Stethoscopes

A stethoscope is an absolutely critical item for any medical office or facility. Ideal for general examination needs, stethoscopes come complete with a chest piece that is tunable to both low frequency and high frequency sounds. In many offices, the nursing supplies also include stethoscopes, where nurses or nurse practitioners are qualified to use it as a diagnostic tool. Top selling brands include Medline, MABIS, 3M™ Littman® and Invacare.

Using Your Stethoscope

As with any important tool in a health care practitioner’s arsenal, the personalized stethoscope should be used with caution and only how instructed. In addition, it should be kept clean to minimize any possible cross-contamination. The ear tips should also be replaced regularly to ensure optimal hearing, performance and hygiene.

A Variety of Features

While stethoscopes are generally all the same size, except for a pediatric stethoscope, many are latex-free to prevent allergies and are disposable for one-time use. While the disposable model may not be as cost effective, some offices prefer this if they feel it would also help prevent the spread of infection. And, they all have an excellent acoustic seal with soft-sealing ear tips. They come in a variety of colors, including blue, black, green, gray, orange, purple and red. You can also find models to use for teaching nursing and medical school students, interns, trainees and more.

Consider the Complete Medical Office or Facility

In addition to a stethoscope, consider other diagnostic tools for the complete office or facility and to be able to treat the broadest types of patients and issues. These include blood pressure supplies, defibrillators, health screening tools, lab supplies and thermometers.