Mobile workstations on wheels (WOWs) allow medical personnel to access and edit electronic records, consult patient data, or access local and remote networks, such as the Internet, from any part of the healthcare facility.
These carts allow your caregivers to conduct these tasks at the patient’s bedside without having to take notes and leave for a dedicated, old-fashioned computer room.
If you’re looking to equip your facility with a new fleet of mobile workstations on wheels, here are some of the most important questions you can ask to ensure your carts fulfill your needs as efficiently as possible.
Does it Have Enough Battery Power for a 12-Hour Shift?
A mobile computer cart’s onboard power system allows it to keep mounted medical equipment powered without relying on traditional, low-mobility power supply methods, such as plugging them into the wall.
However, not all battery systems are created equal. It is vital to choose a system that can provide continuous, uninterrupted power for the entire duration of a shift in your facility. Studies have revealed that a typical hospital shift lasts about 12 hours and that the quality of care given directly depends on the amount of time spent with patients.
One of the best ways to keep caregiving quality up and stress associated with non-nursing activities down is to ensure your medical carts have a reliable, long-lasting power system. The Scott-Clark FMCPT system meets caregivers’ demands by providing all of the following:
- Safe, reliable, and lightweight battery cells, employing Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry instead of traditional alternatives (lead-acid, lithium-ion).
- A high battery capacity; up to 9 hours per unit.
- Fast charging: no more than 4 hours to fully charge a low battery.
- Easy-to-read power indicators using remaining time values instead of percentages.
- Support for dual-battery systems, extending each cart’s onboard capacity to a maximum of 18 hours.
- Supports hot-swapping, letting caregivers replace batteries quickly and easily without the need for an IT technician or specialized skills.
Can it Support the Computers I Have?
Mobile workstation carts are specifically designed to support either a laptop or a desktop computer, but not both interchangeably. The mounting points and attachment systems intended to carry one are incompatible with the other.
For example, a laptop cart does not have a way to carry a desktop computer’s tower or monitor safely. A desktop computer cart has no provisions for mounting a laptop and preventing it from sliding or falling off the cart.
Before you purchase a fleet of mobile carts, take inventory of the computing equipment you already possess. For instance, if your facility primarily depends on laptops, you may need a fleet of dedicated laptop carts.
What Additional Features Should My Carts Have?
A medical cart does not have to be dedicated exclusively for one purpose; you can customize them to meet specific needs and requirements.
For example, a point of care cart may benefit from medication drawers or vital sign monitoring equipment. A cart configured this way may serve as a point of care computer cart and a medication cart.
In other circumstances, you may need custom carts capable of supporting specialized features or extra peripherals, or even general-purpose all-in-one carts.
Examples of custom mobile workstation configurations:
- Enhanced point of care computer carts with lockable medication drawers, suitable for storing prescription medication and providing long-term care for a single patient or a small group of patients.
- Diagnostics imaging mobile workstations, featuring a dual-battery setup, 2 to 4 monitors, and a dedicated desktop workstation. Ideal for radiologists or any department needing high-definition multi-monitor displays.
- Lightweight mobile rounding cart with a single-battery power system, capable of supporting a physician’s personal laptop and a few standard computing peripherals, such as a keyboard and mouse. Ideal for working comfortably and keeping the laptop’s internal battery charged during extended hours.
There are countless other potential combinations and possibilities. A well-rounded mobile cart fleet should include as many models and support as many features as your facility requires. It’s likely that a fleet of standard, general-purpose carts won’t be enough to meet your facility’s needs. For this reason, work with a trusted equipment supplier that can design custom carts for you.
The Takeaway
Scott-Clark Medical was the first mobile computer cart supplier to develop a reliable power and battery management system for medical carts. Let us help you care for others more efficiently by equipping your facility with some of the world’s most advanced mobile cart technologies, such as the FMCPT system.
For more information or to request a free quote, contact us today at (512) 756-7300.