The ambulatory industry in the United States is a multi-billion dollar industry, where many private companies provide ambulance services for various hospitals in large cities.
This industry tends to be capital intensive, due to high cost medical products and vehicles.
Recently, the down turn in the economy has not excused this industry from the challenges.
As profits in the medical field have come down, the pressure on subsidiaries has also increased.
Insurance companies have cracked down on costs from every which angle, which has forced the ambulatory industry to go through their costs with a fine tooth comb.
Sometimes tough times lead to better ideas and products.
The pulse oximeters industry is recently going though a boom due to new innovative products.
Finger pulse oximeters are small, portable, medical devices to measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation levels at costs well below $100.
The old days of bulky units are gone.
The old $1000 units will soon be obsolete.
The new technology age has opened the doors for more accurate, smaller, and more durable finger units.
The ambulatory industry is shifting from the old expensive technology, to the new finger oximeters.
They provide all of their emergency personnel with their own personal pulse oximeters, which are used to get patients vital signs for chart records.
The new oximeters are fast and easy to use, and at a cost of $100 or less, they are much more accessible.
Emergency personnel depend now on their stethoscope, radio and pulse oximeter.
Recently, an ambulatory service company in New York City was surveyed about their recent large purchase of oximeters.
The vice-president of the company stated that for the cost of an old bulky device, the company can purchase 10 to 15 finger units.
They provide each one of their emergency personnel with two (2) finger oximeters along with a carrying case.
"The EMT's love the convenience.
They have what they need right on their belt, and if they lose a pulse oximeter it isn't the end of the World.
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