polarbebe Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 It seems that these diagnostic sets are not used much outside of the first year, so seems like a waste to invest a whole lot. A rep came by my school and the cheapest set offered was $315 for the portable pocket diagnostic set. :( I read the sticky thread on what was recommended but does anybody know if Riester or American Diagnostic Corporation has a better quality set? Or if anybody could recommend another manufacturer that has a price around $100-$150 with decent quality that would be great. On Amazon the Riester set is $139 and $149 for ADC. Thanks ps: Does anybody have the HTC Vox S710 or HTC Hermes (AT&T 8525) and do you like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain1028 Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hey I have the perfect brand: its called the "Don't buy One Brand" you won't really need it. Save the money and buy a few more books. But if you must, get a inexpensive mini set.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulPA Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Iain I agree if you can get away with it don't buy it. At my school however, for every performance exam a few of the professor make you lay out ALL your equipment even if you are not using that piece for the exam in question. So all of us HAD to buy a diagnostic set. Also when we go on our site visits, we have to have them to perform the exam. So if you can get along without buying one do it, if you have to buy inexpensive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Hopeful, That's too bad they made you buy stuff like that... diagnostic sets are so expensive for the little use they will actually get... I know it's been said on the forum before but repetition is good: go cheap on the diagnostic set and get a really good stethoscope. You will never be disappointed! Evan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jengirl18 Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 I got the ADC set off Ebay for about 130. It works great! The only thing is that it doesn't recharge like the more expensive ones, it uses two batteries...but as little as I use it, I haven't had to replace them yet (and now I'm about to graduate.) I'm glad I saved the money. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Febrifuge Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 ...At my school however, for every performance exam a few of the professor make you lay out ALL your equipment even if you are not using that piece for the exam in question. So all of us HAD to buy a diagnostic set.... Wow, that's just downright fascist. Makes me wonder if the school is getting some kind of kickback from that powerful and shady Otoscope lobby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenGintheED Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 If you are required to buy a set, see if your program will allow you to share a set with a classmate... split the costs if you can. If you do share with a classmate, pick someone who has kids. They may find they want to keep it. I have used mine multiple times to check family and friends (not treat, just peek and advise). It's prehistoric, can't be used unless charged first... but I won't part with it. It's too bad that some programs make you buy a diagnostic kit and then don't provide you with opportunities to get good use from them. We went to health fairs and did school physicals where we got practice using them (among other skills). First years now are going to nursing homes to practice PE skills... if you have to buy it, at least use it. If all else fails, check ebay. My set may be old but it was cheap and met/meets my needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulPA Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Wow, that's just downright fascist. Makes me wonder if the school is getting some kind of kickback from that powerful and shady Otoscope lobby... I don't think so. We go into hospitals several time a semester to do our site visists and PE exam. They don't want us using the hospital's equipment. Why who knows? Several bought theirs on ebay cheap. Also try craig's lists. should be able to pick one up cheaply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Febrifuge Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 I'm sure this is my own cluelessness talking, but why on EARTH would they not want you using the hospital's equipment? I would think that as a professional in training, there's more benefit to teaching people how to use whatever they have available. What if you become adept at using, say, a portable Brand A but you've never used a wall-mounted Brand B in your life... and then your first job has nothing but wall-mounted Brand B's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulPA Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 I'm sure this is my own cluelessness talking, but why on EARTH would they not want you using the hospital's equipment? I would think that as a professional in training, there's more benefit to teaching people how to use whatever they have available. What if you become adept at using, say, a portable Brand A but you've never used a wall-mounted Brand B in your life... and then your first job has nothing but wall-mounted Brand B's? No clue! Sometimes you just have to jump through the hoops! Thankfully I didn't have to pay for my set! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenGintheED Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 If you can use one brand, you can use any. The same basic components are present on all equipment - the only variation will be in the configuration and the "bells & whistles". Hospitals can be finnicky (dare I say irrational?) at times in policy making. It's a total speculation, but I wonder if the hospital admin didn't want students using their equipment?? I'm happy to hear your program has such an arrangement, though. Looking at classmates and family get old... good to work with strangers, getting a bit more comfortable before clinicals. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator True Anomaly Posted September 3, 2007 Moderator Share Posted September 3, 2007 What if you become adept at using, say, a portable Brand A but you've never used a wall-mounted Brand B in your life... and then your first job has nothing but wall-mounted Brand B's? Exactly the reason I didn't learn on the PanOptic...just isn't widely-used yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CornellSPA Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I would imagine that you would find afew second year students at any school all to anxious to sell off their otoscope sets!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polarbebe Posted September 5, 2007 Author Share Posted September 5, 2007 Thanks for all the advice. I ended up getting a brand new set (arrived today) off Amazon for $139. It looks ok. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Share Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I know this thread is long dead, but if anyone is still out there: Polarbebe, you got the Riester set? How did it end up working? Still glad that's the one you went with? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdebord Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Also realize the thread is long dead, but I know the topic comes up repeatedly and I have a new experience to share: I couldn't believe when I got to my Peds rotation that they didn't have wall mounts. The doc and I each carried an otoscope in our pockets all day, and I used it so much it needed recharging every 3 days. Also rotated in a county ER which broken wall mounts and 2 portables that were usually MIA. The PAs there kept their personal sets on hand. Anyway, so don't assume you won't need one - Every school is different, but maybe ask the class above you what they found out in clinicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polarbebe Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 I got the American Diagnostic Corporation set. It was serviceable, a little heavy and the quality was decent. I sold it after I graduated for about 40% of the value I paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.