Medical Cart Mobile Power Systems have transformed the healthcare industry. Hospital employees can use medical carts without having to worry about searching for an electrical outlet.
Doctors, nursing staff, and other employees find medical carts more accessible, providing the mobility and freedom that are needed to deliver quality patient care.
However, despite possessing the best state-of-the-art technology that supports the mandatory EMR (Electronic Medical Records) criteria, these medical carts are rendered useless if they do not have the appropriate power supplies. Read on to learn more about the power systems that fuel these mobile medical carts.
How Power Systems Help in Streamlined Medical Care
A typical medical cart mobile power system includes a built-in CPU, keyboard, monitor, and barcode scanner. The system will support dispensing of medication, supply storage, and EMR/EHR software.
When purchasing a medical cart mobile power system, you need to consider its utility value for your hospital, including but not restricted to the following factors:
- integration and improvement of workflow.
- maintainability of the system in the long and short-term.
- support for your existing and future medical software systems.
There are two main types of battery technologies used in medical carts: rechargeable battery and swappable battery technology.
Rechargeable Batteries
With rechargeable battery-powered carts, a cart is exchanged for another fresh cart after it is used for a specific length of time. New power and supplies are used. Good examples of this type of cart include workstation carts and nurse medication carts.
Hospital staff can recharge depleted lithium ion or sealed lead acid batteries. Periodic Automatic Replenishment (PAR) levels will indicate the right time for replenishing the power and supplies.
Battery Swapping Technology
For hospital environments requiring the use of medical carts 24/7, battery-swapping technology is a good choice. Users can just swap the batteries and avoid the downtime resulting from having to recharge the cart. The benefits of this technology are as follows:
- It provides an option for facilities that do not have the required infrastructure for charging of all carts.
- It enhances work efficiency since it eliminates the need for space to charge batteries or store drained and unusable carts.
- It saves employee time and effort devoted to plugging and unplugging of cords, a reported cause of many back (spinal) injuries cited in compensation claims.
- It can be cost-effective since costs for additional labor or parts are very minimal.
Purchasing the Right Batteries
Battery-powered mobile carts facilitate quick recording of patient information, resulting in improved task efficiency and fewer errors. By choosing a safe, long-lasting, and effective battery system, the benefits can be maximized.
Here are a few tips to consider when choosing the battery for your mobile medical cart power system:
- Type of battery: Sealed lead acid batteries are heavy and need to be replaced frequently. Lithium ion phosphate batteries are safer, have a longer operating span, a high power output, and are cost efficient.
- Redundant backup: If the power supply is hampered in some way, you will need a redundant backup feature that enables the use of multiple batteries simultaneously.
- Power requirements: The battery you choose should meet the wattage needs of your medical cart. This will ensure efficient use of power.
- Battery weight: Look for rechargeable and lightweight units that weigh about 15 pounds or less, to reduce workload of your staff.
- Safe design: Ensure the system does not have any visible wires and is fully protected from fluid seepage. The battery should be easy to use and replace. Follow FDA recommended safety measures while using battery-powered systems to avoid injury to patients, visitors, and staff.
By choosing the right medical cart mobile power system, you can ensure your health care facility functions efficiently. The benefits you will see from these power systems include improved patient care and reduced costs.
When you purchase an appropriate medical cart mobile power system that is compatible with your existing systems and provides options for future upgrades of services, you can ensure a streamlined and seamless operation that saves money and effort in the long term.