The stethoscope is undoubtedly one of the most frequently used medical instruments in any healthcare setting. It is commonly known as the “clinician’s third hand.” and for good reason. It is a valuable tool and a symbol of the trust between healthcare providers and their patients. For as important as the stethoscope is, it’s also a known cause for the spread of disease and germs with the intensity of stethoscope use and the high-paced workflow in clinical settings. Recent studies by the Mayo clinic reveal that stethoscopes are seldom cleaned between patients and, even when cleaning does happen, less than 4% of stethoscope diaphragms in these studies met CDC guidelines for cleanliness. Even when cleaning techniques like alcohol swabs are used as directed by the CDC, studies have shown that resistant pathogens remain. In settings, such as Neonatal Intensive Care Units or Intensive Care Units in hospitals, transmitting pathogens to severely compromised patients can truly be a matter of life and death.
Covid has certainly changed the world works, but especially in the healthcare community. Sanitizing procedures are more critical now than ever, and ensuring safe sanitation practices of instruments for both clinicians and patients is at an all-time high. A common practice in the modern Covid focused healthcare setting is to use disposable, “single-patient” stethoscopes. These alternatives can be useful but come with significant pitfalls such as significantly compromised acoustics and due to the excessive demand, are consistently on back order, making them a rare commodity.
The DiskCover System is the first and only touch-free stethoscope barrier dispensing system on the market today. The System dispenses single-use disk covers that are proven to protect patients from exposure to harmful pathogens and contaminants on the stethoscope diaphragm without compromising the acoustics critical for accurate diagnoses. The compact DiskCover Dispenser, designed to be mounted in or near hand hygiene stations in the clinical setting, applies individual disk covers instantly, minimizing workflow disruption while encouraging clinicians and staff use. Installation of the system is surprisingly easy, with just 4 screws and about 10 minutes of time. Each Clean Cassette houses 400 single-use covers and is carefully designed to maintain the sterile status of each individual disk cover through to the point of care.
Costing just 20 cents per disk, the DiskCover system proves to be a wise economic as well as functional choice for any healthcare setting. To learn more about the DiskCover system, contact us today.
