In many healthcare operations, medical carts are key to providing patients with the level of care expected. A quality medical cart can improve a facility’s ability to respond to patient needs and allow greater flexibility for practitioners, significantly improving healthcare outcomes.
However, it is vital to have a versatile and reliable power source for your medical carts. Without an adequate power source, your medical carts will be limited to short operation times and may disrupt patient care. Here are some key factors to consider when shopping for a medical cart power system.
Average Runtime vs. Charging Time
You cannot effectively use your battery-powered medical cart without a fully charged battery. So, one of the primary considerations when choosing a power source is the device’s average runtime compared with its average charge time.
The average runtime is the battery’s lifespan or the length of time the battery can provide power on a single charge. This determines how long you can use the battery without switching the pack or charging it at an outlet. The charge time is how long it takes to charge the device fully.
Ideally, your battery should have a long average runtime and a short charging time. Batteries with these features allow facilities to use the same battery for a more extended period and spend less time charging the power source.
Scott-Clark Medical offers Lithium-Ion-Phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries (also called LIFE batteries) that can be used to power medical devices, such as mobile computers or powered carts, for up to 12 hours of a single 2.5-hour charge.
LiFePO₄ batteries, the latest in battery technology, offer a superior lifespan compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, lead acid batteries, iron phosphate batteries, and pure lithium batteries. This allows your healthcare professionals to use one battery per shift, minimizing downtime and improving efficiency.
Hot-Swappable Capabilities
Another major consideration when shopping for a powered mobile medical cart power source is if the battery has hot-swappable capabilities. Hot-swappable batteries can be swapped out without interrupting the device’s normal operation.
For example, if a hot-swappable battery runs out of power, you can swap another charged battery as a substitute without powering it down. This provides healthcare workers with the ability to provide uninterrupted service and the flexibility they need to tackle complex medical problems and provide life-saving care. These batteries allow healthcare facilities to continue providing service in a power outage or other emergency.
Scott-Clark Medical offers industry-leading hot-swappable batteries. These batteries provide your facility with a boost in productivity and can be used without special training, allowing healthcare workers to easily and quickly swap the batteries when necessary.
State of Charge Indicator
Another important feature in your battery-powered mobile medical cart power system is a state of charge indicator, which shows the battery’s charge level. This allows workers to plan to change the battery as needed and prevents a potentially disruptive power-down from a dead power source.
As you shop for a power source, look for a device that clearly shows the amount of charge remaining. This allows practitioners to plan to replace and recharge the battery at the most appropriate time.
Scott-Clark Medical hot swap batteries feature a State of Charge (SOC) indicator with a large LED display clearly showing the charge level left in the battery packs. It also has a timer to show how long is remaining on the battery pack and provides a visual and audio alert when the battery falls below one hour remaining.
Lightweight Construction
An often overlooked aspect when healthcare facilities shop for a power supply for their medical computer carts is the weight of the power source. A heavy battery will make it more difficult for practitioners to maneuver carts around their facility, slowing down patient care and limiting the staff-patient interaction time.
This effect is further compounded if the battery-powered computer cart is not ergonomically-designed with features like height adjustment capabilities. With a heavy cart and poor ergonomics, healthcare workers are prone to overuse injuries, which can lead to reduced productivity and increased sick days.
Your healthcare workers can accomplish tasks more efficiently by choosing a lightweight power source. Further, the reduced weight of their devices will minimize strain to improve energy levels and overall productivity.
Easy to Troubleshoot
Regardless of the type of power source you select, troubleshooting must be easy. If you need to call in a third-party specialist to repair the device any time something doesn’t work correctly, you are setting your facility up for lengthy downtimes and reduced patient satisfaction.
Any power source used with crucial medical equipment like a medical cart must be reliable and straightforward to fix if something goes wrong. Leading medical cart power sources, like Scott-Clark Medical’s Flexible Mobile Cart Power Technology (FMCPT), are designed to allow healthcare workers to identify and address issues on-scene.
Transform Your Healthcare Practice with Medical Carts From Scott-Clark Medical
If you are shopping for a reliable and easy-to-use power source for your medical carts, Scott-Clark Medical can help. Our cutting-edge power sources and medical technology products are designed with healthcare practitioners in mind. Our products are intended to make your job easier to improve the healthcare facility’s overall productivity.
Our Flexible Mobile Cart Power Technology and hot-swappable battery systems are designed to provide long-lasting power for your fleet of medical carts to improve healthcare outcomes across the facility. Call Scott-Clark Medical today at (512) 756-7300 and speak with one of our representatives to learn how we can help your practice or medical facility.