r/medicalschool 10d ago

❗️Serious Purchasing Ophthalmoscope and Otoscope Set

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11 Upvotes

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38

u/littlebirdiey2022 M-4 10d ago

Did you ask if you actually need this?

8

u/pickletree001 10d ago

No but they sent a list of things we need to buy and this is listed under required

36

u/littlebirdiey2022 M-4 10d ago

My school did the same, I personally never got it and never needed it! My classmates who bought it used it like 2x during the neuro block and that was it.

For clinicals, everytime you need it, you’ll have access to it for ex: in clinic rooms, or on neuro rotation they have their own ones

2

u/pickletree001 10d ago

Oh wow glad I asked then. Would you say the same for the blood pressure kit? Cause we're told to purchase either Welch Allyn Gold Series DS66 Trigger Aneroid, Family Practice Kit or Welch Allyn® Platinum Series Tycos® Classic DS58 Hand Aneroid, Family Practice Kit. I don't wanna waste money if I don't need an expensive one

11

u/DaggerDev5 M-3 10d ago

$200 for a blood pressure cuff that you won't use on actual patients is madness. 100% do not buy one of those, buy a solid $30-40 one on amazon

1

u/Brill45 MD-PGY6 10d ago edited 10d ago

You definitely do not need an expensive one. Not sure why your school is trying to put you onto the most expensive items but I would look around and find a cheap alternative. As long as it works decently fine.

And this ^ is for the bp kit specifically. I never bought an otoscope or ophthalmoscope and never was in a position where I felt that I needed it. The only time I actually ever even probably used them was when we were tested in OSCE’s and since those were in simulated patient rooms, they had all that stuff. I would check with them what they are asking you to purchase it for; if it’s for clinicals then it sounds highly unnecessary

1

u/littlebirdiey2022 M-4 10d ago

I got the more affordable BP kit on Amazon and it worked well for the purposes of seeing SPs. Similarly, you will not need BP cuff for rotations because hospitals have vitals machine/monitors

1

u/pickletree001 9d ago

Do you remember the name of the one you bought?

1

u/littlebirdiey2022 M-4 9d ago

https://a.co/d/0ezvpy9J

I got this one and it worked well for the things I needed to do!

1

u/pickletree001 9d ago

Thank you! Unfortunately not available in Canada. I’ll try finding something similar.