heartcheck monitors

["Leo Schmidt" <leosch@minot.com>]

In response to Lynette's question on the accuracy of the heartcheck
monitors I have the following opinion. I feel that the monitors are very
accurate if they are used properly. It is very important that you use a
conductive medium to assure proper transmission. Also you should watch the
little beating heart on the monitor to make sure you get a good strong
STEADY beat. If the little heart beats irratic, it's probably artifact. But
it is my experience that the monitors are VERY accurate if you use the
conductive gel (or the horse is good and sweaty) and wait a few second so
the reading can pick up more than a couple of cycles.
P&R volunteers are sometimes inexperienced and if you take a survey of how
many count the beat on the 15 second mark and how many don't, I would bet
that you get number of people counting the last beat. 
 The monitor works by sensing the electrical activity of the heart at the
body's surface. In human medicine this technology is used every day,except
that you have a picture on a screen to "see" the heartbeat, and physicians
are "trusting" it. 
 I feel that with a little experience this can be a valued tool, as well as
an experienced P&R volunteer. 
Jutta Schmidt
Minot, North Dakota


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