Foundation purchase of bladder scanner to aid in reducing procedures

Catheter.

The name alone is enough to send shivers up most people’s spines.

But recently, the Prineville Hospital Foundation has made it possible for caregivers at Pioneer Memorial Hospital to reduce the number of procedures that involve placing a catheter.

The BladderScan BVI6100 arrived at PMH in mid-July, 2007, accompanied by Chad Selander, territory manager for Verathon Medical, a company that specializes in ultrasound instruments which measure bladder volume. 

Company trainer sent to introduce caregivers to the new instrument

Selander spent the day introducing the new instrument to the caregivers in many hospital departments. “You apply it at the midline of the patient’s torso, about one inch to one-and-a-half inches above the pubic bone,” he demonstrated using the handheld device on himself.  Selander brought a box with him which simulates a person’s body so that each caregiver could practice using it.

Within five seconds, the BV6100 takes 12 images using non-invasive ultrasound technology.  The device then uses these 12 images to calculate an average volume for the bladder being measured.  Beeping when it has completed the calculation, the ultrasound pictures are uploaded to a computer where they can be viewed by practitioners and caregivers, then printed out to become part of the patient’s chart.

“We will use this new instrument on our post-operative patients, for example, to check to see if they may need a catheter, or if they are not producing enough urine,” states Wendy Dunbar, RN, manager for the PMH Medical-Surgical Care Unit.  “It will allow us to know precisely the conditions within a bladder, and to use a volume-based measure rather than a time-based judgment.  We will also be able to see if there is residual urine in a bladder.  A patient may have voided, but not completely eliminated all the urine they have produced. We will know with precision which of our patients need to have a catheter.”

“I think we will use the bladder scanner several times each week,” states Linda Foss, LPN. “We will use it on surgery patients that have not voided their bladder or on other patients we think may be retaining urine, or who may need re-hydration.  The instrument will narrow the avenues we investigate so we can more quickly determine the correct avenue of treatment.  We will lessen the unnecessary catheterizations.”

“This is an awesome device,” Foss continues. “I’ve used other bladder scanners at other hospitals, and this is the most modern one I’ve seen.” 

“The bottom line is that this new device will provide the highest standard of patient care, especially as it will help us avoid unnecessary procedures.  It will help us monitor our patients’ progress with more accuracy,” adds Dunbar.

The new bladder scanner will reside in Med-Surg, but will be available for use by caregivers in any hospital department including Home Health and Hospice.