How to Provide Your EMTs with Continuous Education

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importance of continuing education ems

This year, May 21st – May 27th is National EMS Week. This week is dedicated to celebrating EMS employees and the important part they play in our nation’s communities to help save lives.

In light of this annual event, we would like to acknowledge the importance of proper education and technology for your EMTs. 

Below are the different ways to provide your EMTs with continuous education, and all the benefits that they provide. 

1. Understand Why Continuing Education is Important

All EMS organizations should offer continuing education within their facility, or in partnership with other healthcare organizations. However, continuing education for EMTs offers more benefits than just filling a requirement to maintain certifications. 

There are several benefits to providing your EMTs with education indefinitely, such as:

More Effective and Efficient Treatment

Keeping up with the latest medical information and technology allows EMS teams to provide better treatment for their patients. 

New practices and technologies (like ours) can save emergency medical professionals time by treating patients with methods that may not have been previously available.

Reduced Risk

Continuing education also reduces liability risk from malpractice or wrongful death. Failure to be consistent with education can result in incorrect treatment, misdiagnosis, or other life-threatening mistakes.

Networking Opportunities

In-person education programs, such as classes and conferences, allow EMS administrators to build connections and grow their network. Forming relationships in the industry can open new career paths, and create opportunities for shared knowledge.

2. Explain the Importance of Learning from Others

No matter what role you play or how long you may have been performing your job,  you should never assume there isn’t more to learn—especially in healthcare. Healthcare professionals should always be willing to learn new information or gain new perspectives from others. 

This also includes helping them acknowledge the value of feedback, and doing self-assessments to better understand their strengths and weaknesses.

3. Be Open to Multiple Teaching Techniques

While all of your EMTs should remain open to learning new things, they might not have the same preferred learning styles or methods. 

Some learn best in a classroom-like environment, while others may prefer educational apps, medical devices, academic journals, or mentors. Keep your options open when looking for educational opportunities for your staff.

The National Association of EMS Educators offers many options for educating EMS Professionals. This is just one of the many ways to find resources that you can use to craft an educational plan for your EMTs.

4. Select Your Best Personnel for QI Leadership

In order to have an effective quality improvement (QI) program, it is understood that providers want to do a better job of providing patient care. If your QI program is successful, it will help your EMTs recognize opportunities within their patient care and encourage them to make proper corrections.

If your QI program is less successful, you may have the wrong leader and might consider making a change to ensure more effective leadership.  

Enlist the help of your best and most qualified clinicians to do QI. Teach them about good culture, statistical process control, normal and special cause variation, and other improvement science concepts that drive them to improve care and be better leaders for the team.

5. Commit to Communication

One of the key reasons why things can go wrong in healthcare organizations is a lack of communication.  There is a failure to communicate issues, questions or changes that would benefit the team. 

When discovering concerns and/or opportunities to improve, it’s vital to share them with your staff. Encourage your team to practice continuous communication no matter what. 

An operation without communication is a recipe for disaster. In an environment where everyone is working collaboratively to save lives, all aspects of communication—including addressing errors, offering constructive feedback, and updating staff on changes in practices—are of utmost importance for a successful operation.

6. Provide Your Team With Michigan Instruments’ Medical Devices

Medical technology has been known to be an avenue for effective education for many healthcare professionals—especially those who practice emergency services. 

For example, our lung simulators can provide helpful training and practice for EMTs. They are fully adjustable and provide a dynamic response to therapy that accurately demonstrates how the human pulmonary system works. 

In addition, we offer outstanding medical equipment, such as our automated CPR machines. These help EMS teams to be more efficient and effective.  

Our Life-Stat and Thumper CPR devices support a quick and simple transition from manual to automated CPR with minimal interruption to compressions. 

The Hands-Free operation of our devices and the option to automatically ventilate the patient along with chest compressions gives the EMS team more time to focus on other life-saving activities. 

While very cost effective and easy to operate, these devices also can perform CPR on larger patients compared to other competing devices.

Learn More About How Our Devices Benefit Emergency Medical Practices

The importance of continuing education for your EMS team cannot be emphasized enough. However, our devices can grant your team new opportunities for both continuing education and effective patient care. 

In honor of National EMS Week, contact us today for more information about why thousands of medical professionals all over the world choose Michigan Instruments.

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4 Ways for Rural Hospitals to Gain Funding for Medical Technology

funding for rural hospitals

Medical technology is constantly evolving, providing more efficient and accurate ways to diagnose and treat patients. However, purchasing these devices and gaining funding for rural hospitals is challenging, as they often have more limited budgets and resources. 

Below are a few strategies we found for gaining funding for medical technology purchases.

How to Gain Funding for Rural Hospitals

1. Grants

Applying for a grant is one of the most common ways to gain funding. There are many organizations that offer grants specifically for healthcare technology, such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, there may be state and local grants available that can help offset the cost of technology purchases.

It’s important to thoroughly research and understand the eligibility requirements, as well as the application process for each grant.  You would also want to confirm the amount of funding that is available. 

Many grants require a detailed project plan and budget, so it may be helpful to work with a grant writer or consultant to ensure a successful application.

2. Loans

Loans are another option for funding medical technology purchases. Many banks and financial institutions offer loans specifically for healthcare providers, with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment options.

Before applying for a loan, you should have a clear understanding of the hospital’s financial situation and budget. It may also be helpful to have a detailed plan for how the technology will be utilized and how it will generate revenue for the hospital.

3. Fundraising

Fundraising can be a creative and effective way to gain funding. This can include hosting events such as charity auctions, benefit concerts, or golf tournaments. 

Additionally, many hospitals have had success with crowdfunding campaigns, which allow individuals to donate directly to the hospital’s technology fund.

When planning a fundraising event or campaign, have a clear message and goal. It may also be helpful to work with a professional fundraiser or event planner to ensure that the campaign runs smoothly and gets you your desired results.

4. Partnerships

Partnering with other healthcare providers or organizations in your community can be a valuable way to gain funding as well. This can be done by forming partnerships with larger hospitals or medical systems, which can provide access to additional resources and funding opportunities. 

Additionally, partnerships with medical technology companies may provide access to discounted or donated equipment.

When forming partnerships, it’s important to understand the terms and responsibilities of each party involved. Consider working with a lawyer or consultant to ensure that your agreement is successful.

How Our Automated CPR Devices Offer Some Relief

Our CPR device is the most cost-effective device available, which can be very beneficial to those facilities that are reliant on outside sources for funding.

For over 55 years, we’ve taken pride in our automated CPR machines that provide high-quality, uninterrupted CPR. Our Life-Stat and Thumper automatic CPR machines provide external chest compressions, giving your patient the best chance for survival.

Below, read some of our customers testimonials from rural areas:

Gadsden County EMS

Gadsden County EMS in Florida is a customer of ours that has found success with our machines in a rural setting:

“We obtained a State of Florida Department of Health rural matching grant that allowed us to purchase six LIFE-STAT 1008 CPR units,” they said. “We handle over 8,000 calls a year in a rural area of Florida and frequently find ourselves running cardiac and respiratory arrest calls with limited manpower. We decided to make the purchase because of its ease of operation and its ability to be utilized as a ventilator and serve as an extra resource to us on emergency scenes.”

University of Alabama EMS

Additionally, Glen Davis, the Regional EMS Director at the University of Alabama, states that his department uses the Life-Stat to provide emergency services to rural areas. 

“The Life-Stat is really the cheapest way to add staff at a minimum per usage cost. This is very important in these tough economic times and we will look at adding more Life-Stat units as our budget allows.”

Johnston Fire Department in Farmdale, Ohio

The Johnston Fire Department used funds from a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to purchase two Life-Stat devices. One of these devices helped save Leonard Osborn, a Farmdale man who went into cardiac arrest and didn’t have a heartbeat for 16 minutes.

Learn More About How Our Machines Can Benefit Your Hospital

Michigan Instruments is devoted to providing technology to healthcare organizations at an affordable price. We offer our unique and revolutionary machinery. Contact us today to learn more about our equipment and how you can make it part of your organization.

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Top Tips For Patient Attraction And Retention In Your Hospital

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After doing extensive research, we’ve found the top tips to help you to attract and retain patients.

Perhaps the two most important factors in the longevity of your hospital’s success are attracting new patients and retaining ones for future medical procedures they need. 

Patient satisfaction is what drives hospitals forward in funding, reputation, and much more—therefore, it’s important to know how to keep them satisfied. This practice is complex, but when executed properly, can result in great success for your hospital.

Keep reading to learn about some tips we found for attracting and retaining patients.

Tips to Attract Patients

Marketing hospitals requires brand-building and sales support, but there’s more to it than that. Making positive connections is the key factor.

Here are some tips for making those connections:

1. Know Your Niche

Consumers have several choices when it comes to products and services, including hospitals. Understanding the distinctions among different types of healthcare facilities can help you address them more effectively. 

2. Learn What Patients Want

When a patient chooses a healthcare provider, they have a lot to consider. Therefore, it takes time to make the decision. 

Listen to your patients and what they’re looking for. This is a sure way to draw in new patients, and keep your current ones happy.

3. Consider Your Online Presence

Social media and website upkeep is one of the most important factors for marketing any service. 

Top Patient Retention Strategies

Did you know that there’s a 60-70% chance that an existing patient will continue visiting a healthcare provider after their first appointment?

Patient loyalty indicates trust that has been built throughout their visits. Additionally, they’re more likely to consider recommendations or other valuable services, therefore contributing to a stronger reputation. 

There are many patient retention strategies. Here are a few:

1. Deliver Excellent Service

Like any other business, good service is not just recommended—it’s essential.

2. Show Your Patients You Care

Patients deserve a healthcare professional that truly cares about them. 

All patients are different and require different needs, so take the time to explain why you believe your chosen plan meets those needs. 

3. Ask For Feedback

Requesting feedback from your patients is a great way to better your services. Use the responses to assess which areas your facility is doing well in, and which areas you need to improve in.

Key Investments to Make in Your Hospital To Attract Patients

There are a couple investments you could make that will increase your chances of attracting new patients to your hospital. Here are some ideas:

1. Invest In Comfort

One thing patients and their loved ones look for when searching for new healthcare is comfort, both before and during the visit. Consider modernizing your waiting room with new TVs, more comfortable chairs, or vending machines.

2. Invest In Your Employees

Employees are the ones directly providing care and services to patients. Listen to them, address their concerns, and treat them with the utmost respect, because their concerns often affect the safety of all employees and patients. 

3. Invest In Education And Research

As you know, healthcare is a field that is constantly evolving with new techniques, guidelines, and protocols. 

Continuing education is necessary to broaden the skills of your staff and better equip them to solve problems, which increases productivity, lowers fatigue, and positive patient outcomes. In addition to training, there must be a demonstration of competency and classes to refresh the minds of your staff. 

Our Devices Can Help The Success Of Your Hospital

Education and relief among employees can be the key to drawing in new patients, or improving the satisfaction of your current patients. 

Our Lung Simulators could be your first step to the education and training your organization needs. Additionally, our automated CPR devices give caregivers a little extra relief, ensuring the best possible care for your patients. Contact us today for more information!

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Key Strategies to Retain and Recruit Healthcare Staff

employee retention strategies in healthcare

According to a current report from Nursing Solutions Inc., the  average hospital turnover rate stands at 25.9%—an increase of 6.4% from the previous year. As you know, finding the best employee retention strategies in healthcare is vital in today’s day and age.

If you’re having a hard time finding new employees or getting your current ones to stay—you’re not alone. Healthcare facilities around the country are having the same issue. While it may seem impossible to overcome, there are steps you can take now to improve your facilities turnover rate by this time next year. 

Below, we highlight some of the best strategies for retention and recruiting of healthcare workers.

1. Create A Healthy and Functional Workplace Environment

The environment of your workplace can make or break an employee’s desire to work there. A toxic workplace can lead to a stressful environment and a possible mental health decline of employees. Employees leave and may even tell others to avoid employment within that organization.

Creating and demonstrating positive values in a workplace is a tried-and-true way to form a healthy work space.  Positive company values guide the right strategy and expected behavior, while forming a “team” dynamic. 

Teams will become more efficient and successful; which is vital as the average nurse can expect at least three 12-hour shifts per week.

2. Consider Updating Your Onboarding Process

The onboarding process is the first impression you’ll give to new employees about your facility. All organizations should give new employees the best possible onboarding process for the first few weeks to make them feel comfortable and want to stay. 

This should include training about their responsibilities, education about the organization’s history and core values, and continuous support. This process is ongoing, so it’s important to employ the best ways for execution to maintain a higher employee retention rate. 

3. Review Compensation And Benefits Packages

Wage can be a major contributing factor to turnover rates. Many healthcare workers are finding higher salaries in travel-centered positions. If you’re finding that your employees are leaving quickly or accepting other job offers, it may be time to review your facility’s compensation and benefits structure. 

Organizations should also make it a regular practice to review the current industry trends in their state. 

4. Understand Why Healthcare Workers Quit

To have a better idea of what employees look for in a workplace, it can be very beneficial to understand why healthcare workers have quit their jobs, especially in the last few years. 

Below are some of the most common reasons why healthcare workers quit:

Desire For Career Advancement

While working in the same position for a long period of time with no changes to responsibility or wages, employees may want a change. It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with their current position—however, reviewing duties, wages and benefits may offer the employee opportunities to further their career.

The best way to handle this issue is to make your employee feel valued in their position.  This might include giving them more recognition and praise and discussing their future opportunities for growth.

Scheduling Concerns

Healthcare requires demanding schedules.  Some of the schedule demands consistently drive employees away. Scheduling issues include shift swapping, over and/or under scheduling, no-show workers, lack of time off/vacation, and unexpected overtime. All these and more can cause frustration within your employees. 

The best way to overcome scheduling concerns is to review the processes for creating schedules and see what can be improved. Remember; it can never hurt to ask employees for feedback!

Strained Relationships with Supervisors

Managing a team can be stressful, regardless of how solid the team is.  When the stress is not properly managed or helped, it can lead to arguments and a poor attitude in the workplace. 

Review with your managers/supervisors their responsibilities, while supporting them with proper resources.  Pay attention to patterns, and know when it’s time to make a change.

Burnout and Stress

Finally, the most common reason healthcare workers quit their jobs—stress.

It’s no secret that healthcare facilities are stressful in nature. The workload and physical and mental exhaustion can be challenging. However, there are ways to encourage your workers to minimize their stress.

This could include creating a positive work environment, offering longer or more breaks during longer shifts to rest, hydrate, or check-in with friends and family.

Giving An Extra Set of Hands Is One of The Best Employee Retention Strategies in Healthcare

Another option to reduce stress and fatigue among your healthcare staff—hands-free automated CPR devices. 

Never forget to remind your team that they’re performing a crucial role for their community, and thank them for their dedication to their practice!

For any questions or concerns regarding our hands-free automated CPR devices, feel free to contact us directly!

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Save Lives and Retain Your Staff: The Top 4 Benefits of Automated CPR for Hospitals

to avoid fatigue in cpr

For some, winter means enjoying the holidays, participating in snow sports, and spending time with family and friends. However, winter also means an increase in 911 calls and emergency room visits due to illness, hazardous road conditions, shoveling snow, frostbite/hypothermia, as well as skiing and snowboarding. To avoid fatigue in CPR for your staff, you need a different solution. 

When accidents and illness strike, hospitals and emergency rooms are flooded with patient inflow. How can automated CPR help ERs and hospitals manage this flow and save lives?

How to Avoid Fatigue in CPR: Automated CPR in Hospitals

During cardiac arrest, it’s crucial to secure high-quality chest compression through the entire event.  However, it can be a challenge to maintain quality, consistent CPR to a cardiac arrest patient manually. 

Automated CPR devices deliver uninterrupted, consistent chest compressions for as long as it takes.  With this, healthcare providers can focus on other aspects of patient care, such as figuring out the underlying cause of the arrest. 

4 Benefits of Automated CPR in Hospitals 

How would your hospital benefit from Michigan Instruments’ automated CPR devices? 

1. Easy to Use; Quick Conversion

Michigan Instruments’ mechanical CPR devices are simple to use and allow a quick transition from manual to automated CPR with minimal interruption to compressions.  Minimizing this “hands-off” time during cardiac arrest can be a critical factor to a successful outcome. 

2. Better Cerebral Perfusion

Our mechanical CPR devices deliver consistent chest compressions to a depth and at a velocity that can improve blood flow to the brain. Furthermore, the compression depth can be customized to each patient.

When used as directed, our devices deliver a compression depth that is 20% of the A-P diameter of the chest, in accordance with AHA guidelines calling for a compression depth of at least 2 inches. 

3. Extended CPR

Manual CPR is physically challenging, but mechanical CPR offers uninterrupted and consistent chest compressions for as long as it takes. 

All you will need is a connection to an oxygen source with no concern about running out of battery if the code is extended. 

4. Accommodates Larger Patients 

A patient’s size should never determine the quality of care they receive. 

Both the Thumper and Life-Stat models accommodate larger patient sizes than any other automated CPR device on the market—both can adjust to a sternum height up to 14.5” and a chest width up to 22”.

To Avoid Fatigue in CPR, Improve Results with Automated CPR

Say goodbye to the physical fatigue of manual CPR by implementing automated CPR in your hospital. Our devices provide an “extra set of hands” and allow your team work on other aspects of the patient’s care, limit staff injury from the physical demands of manual CPR, and increase your patients’ chance of survival. 

The Life-Stat and Thumper offer the best value in the market today with a low acquisition cost and a very low ongoing cost of ownership. Request a quote today!

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User Story: How Life-Stat Helps The University of Alabama Assist Rural Communities

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automatic cpr device

There are many reasons why the Life-Stat is the best automatic CPR device the industry has to offer. We take pride in its several unique qualities that make it suitable for adults of nearly any size and even the elderly. 

Glen Davis, the Regional EMS Director at the University of Alabama, states that his department uses the Life-Stat to provide emergency services to rural areas—a true testament to its life-saving capabilities.

Practicality Without Compromising Quality

“One of the things I really like about the Life-Stat is the ventilation component that other mechanical CPR units don’t provide,” said Davis. “The performance and reliability are exceptional and performance is way above expectations. It provides high-quality CPR.”

Another convenient attribute of the Life-Stat is its flexibility. It can be used efficiently in confined spaces, including stairways. The device is lightweight—only 19.5 lbs. (8.8 kg)—making it easy for immediate use and it accommodates larger patients than other CPR devices available today.

This device is also affordable—that way, lives aren’t compromised in the name of saving money. 

“The Life-Stat is really the cheapest way to add staff at a minimum per usage cost. This is very important in these tough economic times and we will look at adding more Life-Stat units as our budget allows,” said Davis. 

A Device You Can Count On

Did you know that the Life-Stat provides CPR for as long as you need, so long as you have an oxygen source available? 

Its electronic control module allows users to switch from 30:2 to CCV mode, with no interruption to CPR.  The control module also has a pause/resume feature, allowing you to pause the device if an AED is needed. 

The sustainability of this device is also one of its most remarkable features. Davis says that the device’s track record of sustainability and life-span has far exceeded his expectations. 

“With most capital expenditures, you can get an average of 5 years of service,” he said. “We started using the Michigan Instruments equipment in 1978 and even though they have changed for the better over the years, the basic function has never changed.”

Additionally, the Life-Stat delivers uninterrupted CPR to patients in accordance with the latest AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines. 

“If you want to give your patients, who are in cardiac arrest, the best chance to survive and return to their families and normal productive life… then seriously look at adding the Life-Stat to your emergency team.”

Our Goal? To Keep Saving Lives with Life-Stat

Michigan Instruments’ automatic CPR device has helped save lives all around the world for over 55 years. It’s our goal to keep current with the guidelines while offering an affordable, reliable CPR device providing patients with their best chance at survival.

To learn more about the benefits of the Life-Stat, visit here or contact us today.

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Knowledge is Power: October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month 

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

This sudden cardiac arrest awareness month, it’s important to remain aware of how dangerous (and common) sudden cardiac arrest is. Did you know that over 325,000 adult deaths occur per year due to sudden cardiac arrest, thus making it the largest cause of natural death in the United States?

Since October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness month, it’s important to understand what SCA is, the warning signs, and how to respond in a SCA emergency.

Heart Attack vs. Sudden Cardiac Arrest

People often use heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest interchangeably to describe a cardiac emergency. However, it’s important to realize that they aren’t the same. 

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. The block is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the heart arteries. If the blocked artery is not reopened quickly, the part of the heart will die. The longer a person goes without treatment, the greater the damage.

However, sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and often without warning. It’s described as the abrupt loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. The condition is triggered from an electrical malfunction within the heart and causes an irregular heartbeat. This disrupts your heart’s pumping action and stops blood flow to your body.

What are the Warning Signs of SCA?

Sudden cardiac arrest  often occurs without warning. However, there may be warning signs, which include:

  • Chest discomfort
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart (palpitations)

In the event of an immediate arrest – signs would include:

  • Sudden collapse
  • No pulse
  • No breathing
  • Loss of consciousness

What to Do in an SCA Event?

Time is critical when helping a victim, because within minutes  the lack of oxygen  can cause permanent damage to the brain. 

If you see someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest: 

  1. Call 911 
  2. Begin CPR, even if it is the hands only version.  Aim for a rate of 100 to 120 compressions and a depth of 2 inches.
  3. Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if one is available. 

Manual CPR can be physically challenging for caregivers to give for any extended period of time. Fatigue can result in less-than-optimal CPR for patients within minutes. 

However, there is a solution— use of automated CPR machines have saved lives. Michigan Instruments automated CPR devices deliver consistent compressions for as long as needed, eliminating the risk of burnout and ensuring high quality care to the patient.

Be Aware This Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

Time is critical for the effective treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. Life-saving medical attention within 4-6 minutes is necessary to help decrease the chance of brain damage or death.

For this Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, take the time to learn what to do during an SCA event. It can make all the difference in a life or death situation. 

Michigan Instruments’ automated CPR devices have been helping EMS professionals, doctors and nurses provide their patients with the quality care they deserve for decades. Learn more about our Life Stat and Thumper mechanical CPR devices, or contact one of our representatives to learn more!

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Thumper vs. Life Stat: Which CPR Machine is Right for You?

automated cpr machine

Since the automated CPR machine(s), the Model 1007 Thumper® and the Model 1008 Life-Stat®, are so similar, it can be difficult to know right off the bat which is the best fit for your organization.   

Having the right automated CPR machine is important to the safety of your patients. 

At Michigan Instruments, we’re here to help you help others. Below, we compare the main features of each device, so you can decide which automated CPR device is right for you.

Quick Set-Up and Easy to Use

Both the Life-Stat and Thumper devices set up quickly and are easy to use. Insert device into back board, lower massager pad, set compression depth, turn on and go. Set up in SECONDS – cycle for HOURS.

Accommodates Larger Patients

Both the devices accommodate larger patients than many other available Automated CPR devices. Both allow usage on a patient with chest height up to 14.5 inches and width up to 22 inches.  

Compression Depth Control

Compression depth control is the measurement of compression depth when administering CPR. Both the Life-Stat and Thumper feature adjustable compression depth from 0 to 8 cm (0-3 inches) and are adjustable while in use. 

This not only meets but exceeds the American Heart Association’s (AHA) current guidelines of at least 5 cm for an average adult.

Automated CPR Machine: Best Value

The Life-Stat and Thumper are the most cost-effective devices available.  With no expensive disposable items, no batteries to purchase or store.  Once connected to an O2 source, these devices operate indefinitely.

Ventilation

While most of the other features are the same, this is where the key difference lies—the Ventilation Option.  Life-Stat® is built with an option to ventilate the patient at either 30:2 or during continuous compressions – 100 compressions per minute with 9 asynchronous breaths.  The Thumper Device provides 100 continuous compressions per minute and no ventilation option.

Currently, the Life-Stat® is the only automatic CPR device on the market that offers a built-in ventilator and meets current AHA CPR guidelines for chest compression and ventilation.

Storing

Both devices are easily stored and ready to use. Therefore, they are light enough to be easily incorporated into a hospital’s “crash cart” and can be set up within seconds. 

TRADING IN YOUR AUTOMATED CPR MACHINE

At Michigan Instruments, we offer a trade-in allowance for any manufacturer’s automated CPR device.

If you have any questions, please contact the Michigan Instruments team today! We can help you evaluate which device is suitable for you—and the answer may be both. 

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Life-Stat CPR Device Saves Man’s Life After Being Being Clinically Dead

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life stat mechanical cpr

More importantly than anything, Michigan Instruments’ Life-Stat mechanical CPR device saves lives. In Farmdale, Ohio, Leonard Osborn went into cardiac arrest and didn’t have a heartbeat for 16 minutes.

Thankfully, Osborn’s family members contacted 911. Within minutes, he was hooked up to the Life-Stat from Michigan Instruments and survived.

The Life-Stat: Michigan Instruments’ Mechanical CPR Device

The Johnston Fire Department used funds from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to purchase two Life-Stat devices from Michigan Instruments. One of the first members of the fire department’s EMS crew to respond to Osborn’s emergency, Mary Kay Sly, said; ”It was amazing to see how it worked and to know how effective of a tool it is.”

The Life-Stat is a mechanical CPR device designed to deliver continuous chest compressions, with an option to ventilate, to a patient in a state of acute cardiac arrest. The Life-Stat is lightweight and easy to use. Additionally, the transition from manual CPR can be done with minimal interruption to compressions. 

Read more about Michigan Instruments CPR and the benefits.

How The Life-Stat Saved Osborn’s Life

The medical director for Johnson Township EMS, said mechanical CPR surpasses manual CPR (given by a person) because it can guarantee the rate, depth, and quality of the compressions. Plus, it gives the first responders the ability to complete other tasks because they are not administering CPR manually. 

“There is no way a person could keep up with the amount of compressions it often takes in a situation like this,” said Dr. Jeffery Bedlion, when asked about using mechanical CPR to save Osborn’s life. 

Osborn regained a spontaneous heartbeat while being transferred to the emergency room. According to Mary Kay Sly, this was about 16 minutes after he “clinically died.” Once arriving at the Warren hospital, Osborn was admitted to the intensive care unit where he underwent a cardiac procedure. 

Thankfully, Osborn was discharged only a few days later. Soon after, he and his wife visited the Johnson Township Fire Department to thank the crew that saved his life, to which Osborn said; “I owe them big.” 

Know The Signs of a Heart Attack

The American Heart Association (AHA) lists the following as the most common signs of a heart attack: 

  • Chest discomfort
    • In the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and then returns. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. 
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
    • Including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath
    • With or without chest discomfort
  • Nausea 
    • Possibly cold sweat, or lightheadedness. 

Without early medical intervention and consistent compressions, someone suffering from a heart attack can suffer permanent damage or even death.

The Hands-Free CPR Solution

Michigan Instruments Automated CPR devices have saved countless lives and continue to improve first responders’ life-saving intervention. These devices provide high-quality, uninterrupted CPR no matter the circumstance. 

Interested in the Life-Stat or Thumper for your hospital or emergency service? Read more about the benefits and specs and request a quote for a device today. 

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How Life-Stat Can Help Drowning Victims

Administering CPR on a drowning victim is crucial to their survival. Drowning and near-drowning accidents can happen to anyone at any age. Believe it or not, these incidents can also happen any time of the year, and also in shallow water. 

According to Stop Drowning Now, there are an average of 3,500 to 4,000 drownings per year in the United States  — which unfortunately, is about 10 fatal drownings per day on average. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common causes of drowning include:

  • panicking in water
  • falling through ice
  • alcohol consumption near or in water
  • the inability to swim

Below, we outline how the Michigan Instruments Life-Stat mechanical CPR device can help save a drowning victim’s life and reduce stress off of first responders.

Life-Stat Provides Early Medical Intervention

Early medical intervention on drowning victims is crucial, which is where CPR administration comes in. For first responders, using the Life-Stat provides your patients with the best chance at survival. 

The Life-Stat will let the responders give patients hands-free compressions and automatic breaths through a built-in ventilator, thus allowing you to work on other lifesaving measures.

Hands-Free Capability

It’s important to prepare yourself to conduct life-saving actions within a moment’s notice. Administering CPR to victims of drowning can save their life in more ways than one.

If someone has fallen through ice, they could have hypothermia, so it’s vital to warm them up.  This is able to be done while still administering Michigan Instruments CPR. Just one of the reasons why having a hands-free CPR device is essential. 

The Life-Stat delivers CPR to the patient automatically, with uninterrupted compressions. This frees up personnel for other life saving measures.  

Read more about the hands-free capabilities of the Life-Stat.

Uninterrupted CPR, No Matter Where

Whether a drowning occurs on a crowded beach or a desolate location, it’s important to ensure that you have as many skilled hands as possible, with a device you can trust. The Life-Stat provides CPR on a drowning victim with uninterrupted compressions, using a lightweight set-up that takes only seconds. 

This is especially helpful if the drowning occurs far from a hospital, where pre-hospital medical care is vital for survival.

Read more Life-Stat Specs here. 

Life-Stat Can Save Lives

The Life-Stat has numerous benefits that can be crucial for the survival of drowning victims. We’re extremely proud to offer a hands-free, lifesaving device that allows medical professionals to provide other life-saving measures. 

Request a Quote for the Life-Stat today!

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