Do Doctors Need AEDs?POSTED: December 8, 2009 at 5:29 pm BY: Jack - Editor |
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AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillator) have been hitting headlines recently... saving lives when they are available, and prompting lawsuits when they are not.
As one of the leading causes of death in the United States, SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) claims more than 310,000 lives every year . The tragedy is that most of these deaths are preventable. Many victims of SCA would survive if they received CPR and defibrillation within minutes of the event. AEDs are devices that can measure the victim’s heart rhythm and recognize when a shock needs to be administered. Easy-to-use AEDs guide the rescuer through the steps needed to save the victim’s life. The public has begun to recognize the vital importance of AEDs, leading to AED placement in some public areas.
Sure, you’re thinking, I’m all for AEDs in airports. But it’s not enough to have AEDs in convention centers and malls. In order to prevent as many SCA-related deaths as possible, AEDs need to be available in all places where there is an increased risk of a person suffering an SCA, and that includes your office.
Patients with underlying medical conditions face a greater risk of SCA, and some of those patients may be coming to see you for acute or routine medical treatment. Without an AED available in the office, the paramedics might not arrive in time to save the victim’s life. With an AED right in your office, you will be prepared for an emergency rescue if disaster strikes.
But placing AEDs in doctors’ offices is more than just a smart idea. It’s also becoming standard of care. With the American Heart Association now supporting AED placement in all doctor’s offices, you could be vulnerable to litigation charging you with negligence for failure to have an AED available. Lawsuits have already been filed against airlines, theme parks, and health clubs for failing to have AEDs on hand.
The Zoll AED Plus Professional Package is the answer if you are looking for the ideal AED for your practice. The Zoll AED not only delivers shocks, it also coaches the rescuer, step-by-step, on how to use the AED and perform proper CPR using voice prompts, text, and pictures. The Zoll AED actually monitors the rate and depth of the compressions you administer to the victim in real time and responds by announcing “good compressions” or “push harder!” as needed. The electrode pad and the inexpensive lithium batteries all last for five years in stand-by mode, so you won’t have to worry about frequent maintenance to keep your AED ready for emergencies.
Display your AED in the waiting room and your patients will understand that you are truly committed to their health and safety. With AED prices at an all time low, now is the perfect time to buy a life-saving AED for your practice.
