Many doctors like to personalize their stethoscope by putting a cover over the tube. Stethoscope covers come in different colors and shapes. Many pediatricians use animal-shaped stethoscope covers. Other doctors like denim or cotton stethoscope covers. Stethoscope covers serve several purposes. On the one hand, they can protect fragile rubber tubes from wear and tear. Doctors can also identify your stethoscope by the cap if it is lost or loaned to someone else. Many pediatricians find that child-friendly stethoscope designs can have a calming effect on nervous children.
Rubber tubes connect the headphones and the bell of a stethoscope. These tubes are hollow to allow sound to pass through them. Over time, the stethoscope tubes can break and tear, greatly affecting sound quality and making it difficult for the doctor to accurately diagnose any problems the patient may have. Stethoscope covers can protect tubes from the normal deterioration that occurs over time. The covers provide an extra layer of protection that extends the life of the stethoscope.
Stethoscopes are notoriously difficult to follow, especially in a busy hospital environment. Other doctors may borrow stethoscopes and forget to return them, nurses may misplace them, or patients may take them away. It’s a good idea for doctors to have some kind of distinctive marking on their stethoscope to make it easier to find if it gets lost or mixed up with other stethoscopes. A stethoscope sleeve provides the perfect identification. Doctors can easily identify their own stethoscope if it has a unique cover, perhaps even a cover with the doctor’s name on it.
Many children’s doctors have fun stethoscope covers that look like animals or cartoon characters. These covers can distract or calm anxious patients, allowing the physician to work without much resistance from the child.
Stethoscope covers are useful for a number of reasons. They are inexpensive, typically less than $ 20, and can extend the life of the stethoscope, provide identification if the stethoscope is lost, and make the doctor’s job easier when treating young children.