Technology has advanced in leaps and bounds over the past few decades. The medical industry has embraced these advances in its quest to improve patient care and make its facilities more efficient.
Mobile medical carts are just one of these technological advancements. They can save healthcare practitioners time and effort as they tend to their patients.
One downside of these carts is that they are power-intensive. They may be required to run multiple machines and peripherals at once. Keeping these devices powered while on the move can be a challenge. However, for every problem, there is a solution. Below are some examples of power solutions for medical carts.
Swappable batteries
One of the easiest ways to keep carts powered during operation is by using swappable batteries. Users can change batteries on the fly, so the cart doesn’t have to be taken out of service to charge at an outlet. Staff can remove the drained battery and insert a fully charged one in its place.
Carts with swappable batteries come in different forms. The first is a single-battery setup. These carts usually hold enough power to keep everything running for a few minutes while the battery is swapped out.
The second option is a two-battery system. The first battery is removed and changed while the second one keeps everything running. Once the user has replaced the first battery, they can then swap out the second one if necessary.
Designated charging stations are set up for recharging batteries, usually in the form of cabinets or wall-mounted units that connect to the building’s electricity supply. Staff can also charge batteries by plugging the cart into a wall outlet.
Longer-lasting batteries
If a battery is only able to power a cart for a couple of hours, it isn’t good enough. Medical cart batteries need to have sufficient charge to last for at least an entire shift.
Newer technologies are making batteries more efficient than ever before. Different metal mixes and configurations are being experimented with to develop batteries that will hold more power. If your carts are using older batteries, you may find your facility can benefit significantly from replacing them with this modern technology.
Power indicators
Another problem that mobile medical cart users run into is knowing how much power remains at any given time. Power usage can change based on how much an onboard computer is processing or how often staff is using the connected peripherals. A battery could also be at half-charge or less when the next staff member comes on shift.
Some batteries feature displays which indicate how much charge is remaining. Others have an LED light that changes color. Sometimes, the carts themselves have indicator lights on the front or a digital readout of how much charge is left.
Mix and match
Each situation is unique, but there are options to match the needs of any healthcare premises. Facilities can purchase carts with various combinations of these features or design custom carts for specific use cases. No matter your needs, there is a range of power solutions for medical carts available.