RIP, Stethoscope?
No. Not at all. Stethoscopes brought about a new level of physical examination, and the application of a more rigorous science to medicine. Once the 'very emblem of a physician', stethoscopes served healthcare professionals for almost 200 years before the advent of handheld ultrasound devices. It will remain so for quite long - for the simple reason - "at best, the price of ultrasound machines may dip into only the $2000 to 3000 range"! Nelson may suspect that individual physicians will begin swapping out their stethoscopes for them. The stethoscope is survived by the long, white coat, and the old leather (doctor's) bag! They certain had a long run. Back before physicians routinely slung stethoscopes around their shoulders, doctors would place an ear directly on the patient. There is some mention of this practice, called immediate auscultation, in ancient Egyptian literature, Nelson says. And the Greek physician Hippocrates described listening directly to the abdomen and chest. But when Rene Laennec invented a wooden proto-stethoscope in 1816, the resulting amplification changed the course of medicine.
"In the next two years, maybe half a dozen companies are bringing devices of this size to the market," says Nelson. Once the price dips into the $2000 to 3000 range, Nelson suspects that individual physicians will begin swapping out their stethoscopes for small ultrasound machines.
It may be several years before ultrasound machines completely replace the physician's trusty stethoscope. But according to Nelson, the end is nigh. "It's not much different than leaps that we've seen in other technologies, like computers or cellular phones," he says.
Obsolescence comes for every gadget. Even a medical icon.
No. Not at all. Stethoscopes brought about a new level of physical examination, and the application of a more rigorous science to medicine. Once the 'very emblem of a physician', stethoscopes served healthcare professionals for almost 200 years before the advent of handheld ultrasound devices. It will remain so for quite long - for the simple reason - "at best, the price of ultrasound machines may dip into only the $2000 to 3000 range"! Nelson may suspect that individual physicians will begin swapping out their stethoscopes for them. The stethoscope is survived by the long, white coat, and the old leather (doctor's) bag! They certain had a long run. Back before physicians routinely slung stethoscopes around their shoulders, doctors would place an ear directly on the patient. There is some mention of this practice, called immediate auscultation, in ancient Egyptian literature, Nelson says. And the Greek physician Hippocrates described listening directly to the abdomen and chest. But when Rene Laennec invented a wooden proto-stethoscope in 1816, the resulting amplification changed the course of medicine.
"In the next two years, maybe half a dozen companies are bringing devices of this size to the market," says Nelson. Once the price dips into the $2000 to 3000 range, Nelson suspects that individual physicians will begin swapping out their stethoscopes for small ultrasound machines.
It may be several years before ultrasound machines completely replace the physician's trusty stethoscope. But according to Nelson, the end is nigh. "It's not much different than leaps that we've seen in other technologies, like computers or cellular phones," he says.
Obsolescence comes for every gadget. Even a medical icon.
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