If your role involves responding to medical emergencies, you’re probably well aware of the importance of having a good pair of “ears” as we call them, or a stethoscope.
When you’re trying to listen to lung or heart sounds in the back of a bouncing truck with sirens blaring in the background, you want the best you can get your hands on, so that you don’t miss a thing.
There are various brands of stethoscopes with a range of prices ensuring you can find something at your price point that will not disappoint.
MDF Acoustica
You don’t have to break the bank to get a high-quality stethoscope. A great quality option with a reasonable price tag is the MDF brand Acoustica. Highly affordable at just $24.99, the Acoustica is a premium product with added benefits, such as a rotating stem that allows you to focus on both high frequency and low frequency sounds.
This stethoscope is made with long and thick tubing to prevent external noises from disrupting the user and is very lightweight and easy to carry. This is a great product for field medics, firefighter-EMTs as well as hospital staff, as it checks all of the boxes.
It also comes in over a dozen different color schemes and designs. With these factors in mind, you cannot go wrong with the MDF Acoustica.
American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) Adscope stethoscope
Another reasonably priced, yet quality option is the American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) Adscope stethoscope. It features clear acoustics, comfort for both provider and patient, and a ruggedly built stainless steel frame, all backed by a lifetime warranty.
Customer reviews rave about that comfort and flexibility of earpieces, the included non-chill bell for patient comfort, and the sound quality. Price-wise, this is a middle-of-the road product coming in at a very reasonable $55 with a $5 coupon on Amazon at the time of this writing. For the price, you’re getting a ton of value, especially in regard to that lifetime warranty.
3M Littmann Cardiology IV Diagnostic Stethoscope
Sometimes it does make sense to spend top dollar if you’re thinking about durability and longevity. Littman stethoscopes are likely to last you your entire career. The Littman Cardiology Diagnostic stethoscope is what I personally recommend and have used for over 10 years, although they do make various premium models.
This product is very easy to carry, clean and, most importantly, hear from. You may need to change the ear buds once in a while, but other than that, you’ve got a premium product that will not let you down. It is currently priced at $229 on Amazon and you will get a ton of value at that price even without any sales.
3M Littmann CORE Digital Stethoscope
Another Littman option, the CORE Digital Stethoscope can be a great investment if you consider it a training tool. The Core Digital Stethoscope comes with a built-in digital amplifier, noise cancellation and data recorder that links to your smart phone. This is great for training because it allows you to link the stethoscope to Littman’s Eko software, allowing you visualize heart/lung sounds and see the waveforms in real time.
It is often difficult to make out what you’re hearing in the back of an ambulance, but being able to capture, analyze, save, and link recordings to the software can be a beneficial learning experience, particularly when reviewing calls for quality improvement after the fact.
This stethoscope does toggle back into analog mode, and offers other features as well, such as a pediatric chest piece for children. It is certainly not a cheap option, but might make sense for an agency to purchase as a universal training tool for members.
Reliability matters
Our stethoscopes are one of the most important tools that we carry with us, and therefore it is of utmost importance that we have a reliable product that won’t let us down. The products I wrote about here vary in price, but all deliver an exceptional listening experience, when listening counts the most, whether you’re an EMT or a critical care paramedic.
You may very well have the same stethoscope for an entire career, and so it is a good idea to do your research and choose the best one that works for you.
