As hospital carts have become more ubiquitous in hospitals and medical centers their importance to doctors and nurses has grown. With this increased importance comes the need for the medical carts to do more – to be safer, quicker and help improve patient care.
That’s why so many rolling medical carts are custom designed for the job at hand. There are a wide array of peripherals that increase the medical carts functionality with the ability to add hardware like scanners and monitors and also increasing safety measures, such as adding locked drawers and conductive casters.
Knowing the needs of your staff, exploring these peripheral options and customizing your medical carts will go a long way to maximizing the healthcare you can provide.
Peripheral Options
The options for customization and peripherals can be broken down into six categories – computers/monitors, security/storage, workstation, peripherals, vitals and power.
There are now subsections of hospital carts from computer medical carts to supply medical carts – each with their own unique role and functionality.
Most hospitals use a range of medical carts depending on their needs.
- Computers / monitors
Increasing the computing power of a computer or laptop medical cart can make patient care faster, more effective and ultimately save lives. Adding additional or larger monitors can help accessibility, allowing medical professionals to share and relay information easily with patients, colleagues and any other relevant parties.
State-of-the-art optical wireless mice and keyboards can also increase accessibility and comfort in long periods of use.
- Security / storage
One of the rolling medical supply cart’s main uses can be an inherently problematic one – the administration and documentation of drugs and treatments. Restricting access to these drugs is vitally important in hospital environments when patients may not always be under direct supervision.
Adding advanced breakaway, push-button, or electronic keypad locks to your medical carts can keep supplies secure, while giving your staff the flexibility to administer care.
Additional patient storage can also be added to medical carts, allowing patients to store items safely and securely, giving them peace of mind during their stay in hospital.
- Workstation
Small practical additions to your medical cart can go a long way to improving their functionality.
From chart holders to trash containers, these additions allow hospital staff work quickly and safely without having to leave the patient’s bedside increasing the time for point of care.
- Peripherals
The addition of peripherals to your rolling medical carts such as wristband printers, barcode scanners, magnetic card readers and other electronic recording equipment is one of the most powerful tools at a healthcare provider’s disposal.
Vital aspects of patient care, such as the administration of drugs and other treatments can be electronically recorded. The what, when, where and by whom can be recorded on a central system allowing hospital staff to track and administer care far quicker than previously possible. This increases oversight, consistency in patient care and helps coordinate center management.
- Vitals
Adding vital recording and sign devices is standard practice for most rolling medical carts. These tools allow staff to accurately monitor patients’ health.
IV systems can also help with the administration of treatments involving drips. Freeing up time for staff.
- Power
Power and the batteries that supply it are an important aspect of any medical cart. The loss of power could lead to medical emergencies when the patient’s care is tied to the operation of the cart.
That’s why installing specialized battery charging products and state-of-the-art Lithium-ion batteries is essential for providing the highest and safest care possible.
Adding oiled and retractable power chords can also increase the safety of rolling medical carts, cable management is one aspect of running of a hospital not often considered but can quickly get out of control in a busy ward. Being able to reduce the length or remove completely power chords is one way of managing these potential hazards.
