10 Point Guide To Selecting The Right Mobile Computer Cart

Mobile carts undergo a continuous evolution in the fea­tures, options, construction and configurations available, as they adapt to new technology and re­spond to the needs of the custom­er. Selecting the appropriate carts that will meet your specific needs and provide nurses with hassle-free care giving must be the end goal in your decision making process. In this buyer’s guide, we’ve bro­ken down the details, and outlined several criteria to help you make an informed, researched decision.

When it comes to evaluating a mo­bile cart for your organization, there are many questions to answer:

• What kind of computer will be used?
• Will it support the LCD display size I’ve selected?
• Is the work surface large enough?
• Is it easy to maneuver on the tiles and/or carpet?
• Do I need a powered or non-powered system? How long is the runtime?
• Does the manufacturer stand behind their product with a long warranty?
• Does it have the options that I need?

And that’s just the beginning.

The birth of mobile computer carts emerged from the rapid break­throughs happening in wireless technology and the need to harness these advancements to provide im­proved and more efficient care to patients. With the increased wire­less bandwidth, mobile carts came to be a logical solution to implement the new requirements for EHR (Elec­tronic Healthcare Records) and BMV (Bedside Medication Verification). Utilizing mobile carts to meet these standards, healthcare providers were also seeing a feverish evolution in the enhancements in the capabilities of Healthcare Information Systems (HIS) by top tier software providers such as Eclipsys, Epic, Cerner, McKesson, MEDITECH, and Siemens. Along with these enhancements the use of docu­ment management systems, work­flow software, asset tracking through RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), RTLS (Real Time Location Systems), and medical imaging equipment were making a real impact in the overall quality of care that a patient received.

The hardware surrounding these ini­tiatives also adapted over time, and the mobile computer cart and medi­cation cart platforms have seen many improvements.

Get more insight when you read this full white paper.