From the Patient Safety Monitor Blog: MA physician invents infection-preventing stethoscope cover
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
March 24, 2010
A Massachusetts physician has designed a new disposable plastic sleeve to fit over a stethoscope, The Boston Globe reports. Physicians responsible for examining patients who have communicable diseases have been guarding their stethoscopes with latex gloves for years, but the latex solution often does not work well, failing to adequately protect the instrument and fitting the stethoscope awkwardly. Richard Ma, creator of the "Stethguard," the name of the plastic sleeve, says that his invention will help prevent the spread of infection via stethoscope.
