When to buy a stethoscope

[hyupark]

I was recently accepted to medical school (MD) and was wondering when to buy a stethoscope.

What should I buy?

I work in the ED currently and see most doctors have Littmann...

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[calvnandhobbs68]

I was recently accepted to medical school (MD) and was wondering when to buy a stethoscope.

What should I buy?

I work in the ED currently and see most doctors have Littmann...

Wait to see if you get a discount with your school. Lots of schools will so at least wait until school starts. Otherwise I'd get a Littmann...I have a Welch Allyn and it kinda sucks.

 

[GrinchMD]

I was recently accepted to medical school (MD) and was wondering when to buy a stethoscope.

What should I buy?

I work in the ED currently and see most doctors have Littmann...

Because you are going MD and not DO, you certainly don't want to be THAT KID who shows up for orientation without an embroidered white coat and stethoscope around the neck...

But seriously I would wait until you get to school. Or if you tell enough people you are going to MD school they might get you one for a birthday or graduation or whatever.

Congrats on the acceptance BTW.

 

[theseeker4]

I was recently accepted to medical school (MD) and was wondering when to buy a stethoscope.

What should I buy?

I work in the ED currently and see most doctors have Littmann...

I would wait until school starts at least. I got one from my parents as a b day gift after I was accepted. There are discounts through the school as well if you do end up buying your own. There is certainly no rush though, so wait a bit and see if you get one as a gift before school starts.

 

[NickNaylor]

You can get a Littman Cardiology III for less than $200 with no discounts and is pretty well known to be a respectable scope. I'd get that unless you have to buy what the school provides, which is why you should wait. Schools are weird about equipment because of "incentives" provided to students. Kickbacks may or may not also be involved.

(sent from my phone)

 

[linebacker57]

some schools even give you a stethoscope, I know at least G-town does, but it's a welch-allen...ewww, but seriously, wait on it, your professors will tell you what they recommend, but almost everyone does go with the littmann CIII

 

[kami333]

Tip to anyone who has unused FSA funds they need to burn, stethoscopes are eligible purchases.

 

[WTEngel]

I am a fan of the master cardiology and the STC cardiology. The most recent stethoscope I have been using is the 3100 electronic, by far the best, but way overkill for your needs. All of these are made by Littmann.

All of the above have allowed me to hear breath sounds and heart tones quite well, even while flying in the back of a helicopter.

Also, be aware that buying an expensive stethoscope right out of the gate is asking for trouble. Having worked in the clinical setting for a few years, I have learned that stethoscopes have a habit of walking off and finding new homes quite often.

 

[angemon89]

For some reason I was under the impression that schools provided stethoscopes.

 

[ComfortCreature]

I can't see why there is such a negative review of Welch Allen stethoscopes. What could possibly be the difference that a med student could notice? Are they just uncomfortable?

 

[mimelim]

For some reason I was under the impression that schools provided stethoscopes.

This would be incorrect. Most schools will offer discounts on products, but in the end people end up buying their own. I'm sure some schools out there provide, but it is not the norm.

I had a Littman Cardiology III for 3 years until it was stolen in the middle of a trauma. I have since bought a Littman Classic II SE and haven't looked back. I feel like I was pressured into buying the Cardiology III and while it is likely a better stethascope, for what 90% of physicians do, it is unnecessary to spend a lot on it.

 

[NickNaylor]

I can't see why there is such a negative review of Welch Allen stethoscopes. What could possibly be the difference that a med student could notice? Are they just uncomfortable?

I'm assuming the standard scopes that are provided in our class are Welch Allyn scopes since the otoscope/opthalmoscope are Welch Allyn products. It is an absolute piece of garbage. Aesthetically it looks like a kids toy, it doesn't feel well-made, and the sounds just generally don't come through as well. Obviously this might be limited to this particular model, but considering that the Cardiology III can be bought for less than $150 (which is nothing in the big scheme of things), I don't see why you wouldn't get one.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I'd wait because some schools give you free ones, or as others have said discounts.

 

[loveoforganic2]

I'm assuming the standard scopes that are provided in our class are Welch Allyn scopes since the otoscope/opthalmoscope are Welch Allyn products. It is an absolute piece of garbage. Aesthetically it looks like a kids toy, it doesn't feel well-made, and the sounds just generally don't come through as well. Obviously this might be limited to this particular model, but considering that the Cardiology III can be bought for less than $150 (which is nothing in the big scheme of things), I don't see why you wouldn't get one.

WA makes cardiology-grade steths and cheapo's, just like Littman. Both of their good steths are fine options

 

[NickNaylor]

WA makes cardiology-grade steths and cheapo's, just like Littman. Both of their good steths are fine options

Yeah, I'm sure. I'm guessing that the model that's provided as our standard equipment package is the lowest class they offer.

(sent from my phone)

 

[Law2Doc]

I'd wait because some schools give you free ones, or as others have said discounts.

Also if you do med school in a big city where most of the patients are contact precaution, you are going to end up using the disposable stethoscope in the patients room 90% of the time anyhow. So best to get used to listening to patients with a crummy steth. I'd wait until the last possible time to buy a stethoscope and then buy the cheapest steth with a bell off eBay or any graduating senior going into path.

 

[KnuxNole]

The otoscope/opthalmoscope is the worst purchase to make. Sadly, you might have to be forced to buy it. Once you hit clinicals, you'll find that you wasted good money 🙁

 

[WTEngel]

I agree with the oto/opthomal scope being a waste of money. I can't imagine why programs would make students purchase them...I guess for practice.

It seems along the same lines of having students buy their own sphygmomanometer.

 

[sector9]

For some reason I was under the impression that schools provided stethoscopes.

Some schools give you one (just like how some schools give you a laptop or iPad) with money they've already taken from you in the way of tuition . That's a good reason to just wait to buy one

 

[Sophocles]

Some schools give you one (just like how some schools give you a laptop or iPad) with money they've already taken from you in the way of tuition . That's a good reason to just wait to buy one

At my interview at Cornell today they stated that you get an iPad, as well as, a stethoscope with your name engraved on it during orientation.

 

[FCMike11]

Master Cardiology is the BEST stethoscope.

 

[Geebeejay]

Might as well buy one when you get to school....don' t be a dick and carry it around all the time though 🙂. Make sure you mark it uniquely in some obvious way....nondescript stethoscopes tend to disappear on the floor

 

[darkjedi]

Some schools give you one (just like how some schools give you a laptop or iPad) with money they've already taken from you in the way of tuition . That's a good reason to just wait to buy one

Sometimes rich alumni donate stethoscopes as well.

 

[NickNaylor]

I agree with the oto/opthomal scope being a waste of money. I can't imagine why programs would make students purchase them...I guess for practice.

It seems along the same lines of having students buy their own sphygmomanometer.

How nice of you to say that - our required equipment package actually included one. 😡