Guest Column: Healthcare Tablets: Choosing The Right Solution

By Greg Davidson, senior business development manager for the healthcare industry, Panasonic Toughbook

The topic of tablet computers in healthcare has received an enormous amount of attention since the introduction of Apple’s iPad and tablets using Windows 7. While demand for mobile devices in the healthcare market is growing, there is still no one perfect solution for healthcare users – and there never will be. Radiologists have different needs than surgeons and nurses have different needs than phlebotomists. If your goal is to improve patient safety and workflow, then you’ll need to find devices that work best for each user.

This sudden swell of interest in tablets merits a discussion of issues healthcare organizations should consider when looking for a tablet of any kind. Before deploying a tablet, you must consider a number of factors, including ergonomics, connectivity, durability, security, vendor experience, service and support, functionality and the ability to repeatedly sanitize the device. These will all impact the success of the deployment. The worst thing you can do is just look at price!

Tablets are designed to facilitate mobility, but the true benefits of mobility can only be achieved with connectivity. Most healthcare facilities gain connectivity via Wi-Fi, but home health workers may require mobile broadband. When looking at a tablet’s connectivity, consider its ability to capture a signal in fringe areas. Most devices will have a clear signal near a router or cell tower, but how strong is the connection as you move them away from an access point? Wireless testing is simple and often overlooked. It’s common to blame the wireless network when you can’t get a signal, but often it’s the device.