A telemetry unit is a floor in a hospital where patients undergo continuous electronic monitoring. The unit is designed to monitor patients vital signs, such as cardiac rhythm and rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. Electronic signals are transmitted from the electrodes and leads on a patient to a central monitor where they are stored and interpreted. This technology allows patients to be mobile while being monitored, rather than being restricted by a bedside cardiac monitor.

Telemetry units in hospitals are units where patients are under constant electronic monitoring. Many patients in telemetry units have experienced cardiovascular incidents like heart attacks or strokes and must be kept under close observation as they recover. Telemetry nurses monitor vital signs and rapidly respond to any sudden changes in patient status. Patients on a telemetry unit typically have a cardiac condition such as heart failure, heart disease, and complications of cardiac issues.

Telemetry units are also used to monitor patients who have undergone cardiac surgery, have had a stent inserted, a pacemaker placed, or coronary bypass surgery. Patients who have hypertension and those who have had a stroke may also be on telemetry.

Telemetry units are equipped with medical devices and equipment such as EKG and oxygen machines. The setup of the unit enables rapid detection and response to critical changes in a patient’s condition through the transmission of heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure data directly to a central monitoring station.

In addition to hospital telemetry units, telemetry can also refer to the process of monitoring a patient’s vital signs where that information is collected and displayed in a central location for healthcare providers to review. Telemetry can be used to monitor a patients heart while they are in the hospital, to watch the pattern of their heartbeats, find any heart problems they may have with their heartbeat, and see how well their medications are working.