AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
When was the last time that cuff pressure gauge was calibrated?
One of my jobs was calibrating all kinds of dial gauges and they regularly go out of tolerance and have to be replaced.
Doctors blood pressure machine is broke
- Thread starter Chris142
- Start date
- Status
When was the last time that cuff pressure gauge was calibrated?
One of my jobs was calibrating all kinds of dial gauges and they regularly go out of tolerance and have to be replaced.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Have 2 wrist type and 1 cuff style testers (3 brands) … when the 1st seems off, adjust position and/or try the other.
The “last word” is my cuff style (also digital) … cost of all three of them was $120 …
They can be finicky … have learned not to trust an odd looking reading …
The “last word” is my cuff style (also digital) … cost of all three of them was $120 …
They can be finicky … have learned not to trust an odd looking reading …
Very common for BP cuff to be worn out.
The staff should have immediately taken a manual BP measurement.
My wife is a nurse(pediatric hospital) and I was talking to her about things along those lines not too long ago. It came up when I had her take my BP before a telephone doctor visit.
Basically she said that on her floor, they hook people up to the "do everything" machines that keep track of BP/pulse/o2 etc and record it.
With that said, she still takes blood pressure and pulse manually at least once every shift. Basically if they get a number that looks wonky, the first step normally is to resort to manual techniques as a check on the numbers.
For that matter, I've been in my regular doctor's office before and had a high BP reading the first time I checked it. When that happens at my doctor's office, their first reaction is normally just to grab a different cuff and recheck.
Basically she said that on her floor, they hook people up to the "do everything" machines that keep track of BP/pulse/o2 etc and record it.
With that said, she still takes blood pressure and pulse manually at least once every shift. Basically if they get a number that looks wonky, the first step normally is to resort to manual techniques as a check on the numbers.
For that matter, I've been in my regular doctor's office before and had a high BP reading the first time I checked it. When that happens at my doctor's office, their first reaction is normally just to grab a different cuff and recheck.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Do you guys with medical connections know if doctors or hospitals ever get that stuff calibrated?
The machine might be accurate but are the eyeballs reading it? That is a benefit of a digital readout.
I worked for many years as a calibration technician. There were only a few of the local medical facilities that calibrated their blood pressure devices. I often wondered if the reason was that if the device was found to be out of calibration they might open themselves up to law suites?
That happens to me as well. I'll go to the doctor and see 140/70. Come home and have 120/70 or a bit lower. I had the accuracy of my machine checked by a cardiologist. Some doctors see 130/75 and are quick to prescribe BP meds.
Here’s how it works in the area I reside. We have a monopoly as far as hospitals and doctors. When the hospitals get new machines, the old ones are passed down to the hospital’s health groups. If you go to one of the affiliated doctors and get an abnormal BP reading, they just refer you up the line. Pass the money around. Poor health care indeed.
I've had my BP taken 5-6 times over a short period of time with different equipment and they were within +/- 10 mm Hg of each other.
In a hospital it’s once per year to check the BP vital signs monitors.There’s a biomed staff at the hospital 5 days a week but every month there’s different departments to do PM’s.
It was very common for a director of a floor to call biomed shop for them to check all vital signs monitors every few months. Its not uncommon to get 3 different readings when testing the non invasive blood pressure.
Like i said before, all it takes is an old BP cuff.... or new defective disposable BP cuff to get incorrect readings.
Last edited:
Whenever I get my BP checked at my Doctor's office, they start with the machine first. If there is any concern, they will then check it with the manual cuff.
It isn't unusual for the machine to give a false reading - high or low. Their attitude is taking a manual reading is usually more accurate.
And you can't discount technician error, either. My last visit using the machine gave me an extremely low reading. Doctor came in, used a manual cuff, and it was fine. It happens.
It isn't unusual for the machine to give a false reading - high or low. Their attitude is taking a manual reading is usually more accurate.
And you can't discount technician error, either. My last visit using the machine gave me an extremely low reading. Doctor came in, used a manual cuff, and it was fine. It happens.
The normal now is less than 120/80. However, any doctor prescribing meds at 130/75 is really jumping the gun. They should be talking about diet and exercise first.
My doctor wants me around 105-110 over 60-70. I am on meds and I am close to that most of the time. A lot depends on your health plus family history.
I remember when cholesterol was normal at 250, then they lowered that to 200. Now it’s even lower.
My new doctor told me they target 120/80 as the norm now. Years ago 140/90 was the norm. Age factors in, and climate. Hot weather lowers BP, I know a few people who have to be taken off BP meds during the summer months. Then comes the NY winter and they're on it again. As always diet and exercise play an important part. I was on BP meds for a month and started walking, and lost about 15 lbs pounds. That was about 4 years ago, and thanks be to God I'm still off BP meds. I like doctors who think out of the box a little and not immediately toss meds at a problem.
I was just under 130/75 in high school when I could easily break a 6 minute mile. Meds for that level seems nuts.
For hospitals, yes, the regulatory agencies require it on a scheduled basis. Many times this also applies to clinics that are owned/operated by hospitals.
For stand-alone clinics, IME, usually not.
Here's a bit of info that isn't well-known, that some may find interesting. The NIBP machines will not be accurate on everyone, even when working properly. Some of the mfrs include this info in their user and/or service manuals. What it boils down to is that the mfr does studies on their machine, comparing it to manual readings. A certain (small) part of the population will not be "compatible" with the machine's algorithm, for lack of a better term. For example, a mfr might state that their machine is accurate within +/-X for 97% of the population.
Personally, I have found that my BP reads higher on one particular brand of machine than it does on others.
Personally, I have found that my BP reads higher on one particular brand of machine than it does on others.
I am back again to get the stitches removed. Their machine is still not fixed.
We use our own at home, cuff based automatic machine. Wife just bought me a newer one, the older one must be over a decade old with CVS lifetime warranty, new one is Omron 10 Series BP7450, like it a lot, good score from consumer reports too. Accuracy got a 5/5
Of course I still take notice of the readings my Dr gets.
They have always matched up with the Drs office when done manually by them. Dentists and other practitioners, its almost criminal how out of whack these devices are, more so the wrist machines. They shouldn't even bother.
Some might think I am a bit of a health nut at my age and for the last couple decades but the reason is I am determined to avoid the death sentence of heart disease that had prevailed on one side of the family for generations, So far its working my typical BP is 110/65 and honestly sometimes much lower, other times it can be a little higher.
Of course I still take notice of the readings my Dr gets.
They have always matched up with the Drs office when done manually by them. Dentists and other practitioners, its almost criminal how out of whack these devices are, more so the wrist machines. They shouldn't even bother.
Some might think I am a bit of a health nut at my age and for the last couple decades but the reason is I am determined to avoid the death sentence of heart disease that had prevailed on one side of the family for generations, So far its working my typical BP is 110/65 and honestly sometimes much lower, other times it can be a little higher.
- Status
Similar threads
