Healthcare facilities continuously review and update their processes, and medical carts are an essential part of modern patient care. Mobile computer carts have integrated seamlessly into many medical environments and enabled managers to increase productivity to improve patient outcomes.
There are different types of carts that are useful for various medical teams. Because a high-quality cart pays for itself many times over in productivity and improved patient care, they are an excellent investment in your facility.
Before purchasing medical equipment for your hospital, it’s vital to consider why there is such an increase in the use of medical carts in healthcare.
Increased Staff Time On the Ward
Physicians and nurses need to be at the point of care to achieve the best results for their patients. Studies have shown the importance of the physician/patient relationship, and by utilizing a mobile cart, staff can spend increased time at the point of care.
Electronic medical records are available when medical professionals reach the patient’s bedside, eliminating the need to spend time retrieving files from administrative areas. Because of the substantial storage compartments on computer carts, physicians and nurses can take all the medical devices they need when they set off on their rounds.
The easy accessibility of everyday items, such as gloves and gowns, means they can quickly change their coverings before and after seeing each patient. Because there are specialized medical storage areas for hazardous materials, employees can safely store contaminated clothing and devices for disposal in a central location at the end of their shift.
Having increased time on the ward enables medical professionals to see more patients in a shorter amount of time and improves hospital workflow.
Patient Data Confidentiality
The HIPPA guidelines provide strict rules for ensuring healthcare facilities protect patient data. Because physicians and nurses can use a password-protected computer to access patient files, there is no need to use paper files that unauthorized personnel could view.
When medical staff complete their treatment and enter notes onto a computer at the point of care, this information is on a secure server with protective security protocols. This functionality makes it less likely others can see the data, and there is a significantly reduced risk of a facility losing the information.
Improved Infection Control
When medical professionals gather in one area, such as a centralized computer, pharmacy, or an equipment storeroom, this can lead to an increased risk of infection transference.
However, if physicians and nurses stock their mobile medical carts with the equipment they require for the duration of their shift, they can perform their duties without the need to mix as often with colleagues. This reduced interaction with others also extends to hospital visitors or contractors who could also introduce infections into the clinical environment.
Because patient safety is the highest priority in every medical establishment, utilizing a portable cart could be an effective method of protecting those in your care. There are further hygienic benefits to using a mobile computing cart, as staff can disinfect their cart before and after treating each patient.
Employees can access sterilizing sprays and wipes in the integrated containers and drawers, wiping surfaces to keep them clean and ready for use with the next patient.
Faster Emergency Response Times
While mobile medical carts are the ideal solution for many routine daily tasks, they can be vital for emergency response. For example, in a cardiac ward, time is of the essence. Your medical team can position a fully equipped mobile cart at the entrance to the ward. In a cardiac emergency, staff can quickly locate the cart and move it into position at the point of care. Because the laptop computer on the unit contains real-time patient information, the team can instantly decide on the best course of action.
Nurses can use the medical devices on the cart to take vital signs readings, while physicians can access medications and life-saving equipment to treat their patients in the fastest time.
While the effects of this enhanced response time may be most apparent on wards where patients require life-saving assistance, it can also be a significant benefit in any healthcare environment where patients are in distress.
Improved Record Keeping
Every healthcare facility faces the challenge of keeping precise records of sensitive medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Each time a physician prescribes medication, there must be a log for the patient’s safety and external auditing purposes.
When medics need to write this information in a file, it can be time-consuming. However, a more substantial risk occurs if staff are so busy that they inadvertently forget to note the prescription.
When using a mobile medical cart, physicians can use barcode scanners and wands to track every patient interaction. Upon arrival at the point of care, medical staff can scan the patient’s wristband. This action records when staff attend the point of care and ensures the correct information displays on the computer, so the physician has access to the right patient file.
Because it is essential to keep medications in securely locked drawers, it is advantageous to choose a more advanced safekeeping method than the traditional lock and key designs. Modern medical carts offer biometric locking drawers and grant access using proximity scanners.
You can provide staff with encoded keycards that enable access when they are within a mobile medical cart’s preset distance. This feature allows trained medics to have access to pharmaceuticals for treating patients. When a staff member removes a medicine from the drawer, they can use a barcode scanner to record each time they provide a patient with medication for their treatment. Because each transaction creates a real-time electronic footprint, accountability and auditing are more manageable.
Healthcare facilities instantly receive an update on which physician prescribed a medicine, which patient was in receipt, and the time and date the transaction took place. This functionality provides vital safeguarding for the physician, as they have a verified record of their prescriptions actions.
Increased Healthcare Facility Profitability
Patient care is the priority for every medical facility. However, to provide the highest standards of care, you also need to be profitable. When using mobile medical carts, you can streamline processes and make it easier to understand the times when medical staff are on the ward.
There is undeniable growth in the medical cart market, and this is because facilities want to increase their understanding of forecast periods for profitability.
With efficient control of equipment and medical supplies, facilities can predict their long-term profit projections more accurately. This ability can make a difference when considering your budget for patient care investment.
Contact Scott-Clark Medical
At Scott-Clark Medical, we have decades of experience providing state-of-the-art mobile medical carts to the healthcare sector. We offer a world-class service to our global customer base.
We can supply the right cart for every department in your facility, helping you to increase patient care standards and overall profitability.
Contact our team at (512) 756-7300 for a free consultation and quote.