I purchased Eko device during the hight of pandemic because I needed a compact stethoscope device that reduced clutters that I had to carry while seeing patients in ER. This device fit the need. Compact in size, easy to protect by covering it w a glove, easy to disinfect, quick to use and put away in a pocket. Able to hear despite negative pressure pump in patient’s room. It is inconvenient and have to adjust to having a earbud in my hear while talking to the patient. However, I was safely and conveniently auscultate patients including COVID PUI with asthma/CHF,etc. Had a major set back with bluetooth connection for about 6 wks that was very frustrating & trying to resolve it by email was futile. I was appreciate of the support team who arranged for a zoom mtg. The issue is resolved now. The device connects seamlessly. It does drain phone battery and this is something I’ll have to collect more detailed data to give feedback. I find it necessary to carry my Litmann stethoscope tube with me in case of any malfunction w Eko. I prefer Littmann chest piece with the Eko attachment. Support team has been responsive. Emily has been very responsive, accommodating and instrumental in my continued use of the Eko attachment device. In a busy, loud ER in this unpredictable pandemic period, this device is innovated and has the edge.

I wrote a review with some of the shortcomings of the stethoscope/app and promptly received a response from the development team. It turns out that one shortcoming (the phone speaker audio) can’t really be fixed since it’s a speaker issue and not really an issue on the app’s part. The other one I mentioned, which was a loud noise after a recording playback finished playing through the stethoscope, was fixed very quickly. It turned out to be a known bug with some older models of the Eko Core, and I was immediately sent a replacement. The replacement was shipped without my needing to send the defective unit back first, since I would be without a stethoscope until the replacement arrived. I received the replacement unit within a few days, and I’ll now be sending back the defective unit free of charge. The audio bug seems to be gone, which is great, and it was a very easy process to fix the issue.

Was unaware my $400+ Littmann Core requires me to pay an additional $100+ a year in order to access key features like AFIB and murmur detection. Additionally, it can’t seem to detect a correct heart rate on a recording. It also refuses to play back the recording on your phones speaker, you can’t hear it without headphones. Additionally, I have trouble hearing on patients. I can hear on myself okay. But on patients? It’s like it doesn’t even work. I thought I was going crazy because I couldn’t hear anything. Mine is engraved so I can’t return it. Bummer kinda. I was so excited, and initially thought it worked well until I used it in the hospital. Maybe I need to get the hang of it or something, but the extra “subscription fee” is almost enough for me. It’s sad because I really wanted the Eko Core 500 in the future, but with companies putting everything you physically purchase behind a paywall (think, the push-to-start button on your car or heated seats both of which came with the car you paid multiple grand for, all because it’s digital and remote) I have immense reservations. There is no way to guarantee they won’t nuke the functionality of the product I purchase (and based on reviews it seems they already did). I used to want everything to go digital. Now I’m unsure. Sad.

For as much time as it takes to find a reliable waveform on this thing, your auto-record closing the EKG screen is NOT EVEN REMOTELY OKAY. This is horrible. It’s bad enough that everyone always looks like they have afib, but this is over the top terrible. I should be able to quickly open the app and see a waveform for any amount of time I wish without having to click through stuff repeatedly. Bring this ability back, and I’ll give you your stars back. Don’t do that, and I’ll move on to a different brand.I got this also because I can’t hear well through stethoscopes. Please explain to me why even when the volume is turned all the way up on my phone, I have to hold the speaker against my ear???? My hearing is not perfect, but it is certainly good enough to be able to turn this up and hear it at a reasonable volume on my phone. The idea behind this purchase was to be able to provide patient care to covid patients without removing my PAPR. I can’t even hear the phone app in a quiet empty room, let alone with a PAPR. This stethoscope was a very disappointing purchase overall. I was so so excited for it, too.