A good veterinary ultrasound machine can have a big impact on your veterinary practice. With a reliable ultrasound machine, you'll be able to diagnose more conditions and provide better care for patients. In this way, an ultrasound machine can make it possible to expand your business and attract more patients.

Maintaining your ultrasound machine is an important part of offering good patient care. Without proper maintenance, your machine could provide incorrect data or contribute to the spread of infection in your clinic. Here's what you need to know about maintaining your ultrasound machine. 

Clean the Ultrasound Machine After Each Use

Your ultrasound machine will regularly come into contact with tissues (like skin, hair, and saliva) that could spread infection. Cleaning your ultrasound machine can prevent this from happening. 

With a designated ultrasound cleaning product, clean and disinfect the ultrasound transducer after every use. Follow manufacturer instructions during the cleaning process. All machines are different, so even if you're used to cleaning a different ultrasound machine, do not assume that your methods will apply to your current machine.

In addition to the cleaning after each use, your unit must be dusted regularly. Remove dust with a microfiber cloth. 

Keep Your Machine in a Safe Location

Place your ultrasound machine in a climate-controlled room out of the way of direct sunlight and away from heat registers. Place the machine outside the flow of traffic to prevent people from knocking into the machine.

Inspect Your Machine Before Use

Before using the machine on a patient, check all cords and connections. Inspect the transducer for of wear and tear. If your machine exhibits signs of potential issues, contact your ultrasound machine technician as soon as possible. Do not use a machine that seems to be malfunctioning.  

Handle the Machine Gently

Crystals in the transducer produce ultrasound waves when they experience mechanical stress. These ultrasound waves are bounced off of the body. Ultrasound echoes are received by the transducer and ultimately are used to produce the image on screen. 

Impacts that occur when the transducer is dropped or knocked against objects in the examining room could cause damage that distorts or changes the image that will appear on the ultrasound machine. 

Train technicians in your clinic to use the ultrasound machine gently. Hold periodic training sessions to discuss best practices when holding and handling the transducer. Make a note of incidents when the transducer is dropped or used improperly. Review these incidents on a regular basis to watch for patterns. When you notice a pattern, take steps to prevent these issues from reoccurring. 

Schedule Tune-ups and Maintenance With a Certified Professional

Although you can usually tell when an ultrasound machine is malfunctioning, this is not always the case. Schedule tune-ups for your machine even if it seems to be in good condition. Only have a qualified technician who has experience with your particular machine service the machine.

Limit Use to Experienced, Trained Professionals

When recruiting for veterinarians and technicians at your clinic, look for candidates who have training and knowledge of ultrasound machines. It is best to find candidates who have experience with your specific machine, but it's not a requirement.

When hiring a candidate who does not have training to use your specific machine, arrange for in-house training. Create a program that is consistent and thorough to ensure everyone who needs to use your machine is capable.  

In addition, develop a training manual for every technician and veterinarian in your practice. Include details about cleaning the machine, such as where cleaning solutions are kept and information about the ultrasound machine's regular service schedule. Give each technician and veterinarian a copy of your training manual, and keep a copy of the manual near the machine. 

Purchase a Service Agreement

Service agreements make it easy to maintain your ultrasound machine. These agreements also help ensure that your machine will get repair and care when it's required.

Before purchasing a service agreement, study the details of the document. Your service agreement may require you to schedule tune-ups at specific times. If this is the case, work with your office manager or scheduler to ensure that your tune-ups are scheduled as needed. 

Read the Warranty

Your ultrasound machine can help you save money on repairs should your machine break down. However, you can accidentally void the warranty on your machine if you fail to read and follow the terms of the warranty. Read the warranty before using or cleaning the machine for the first time, and follow all instructions to preserve the warranty. 

Contact Your Ultrasound Machine Company

For more information about how you can maintain your ultrasound machine, contact an expert in your area. At KeeboVet, we're happy to answer your questions about how to maintain your veterinary ultrasound machine. Call us today for more information.