If You Need A Mobile Computing Solution You Need A Partner, Not A Vendor
Whether they are marketed as computer carts, medication carts, mobile workstations, or WOWs (workstations on wheels); there are plenty of options from which to choose. However, as with any technology decision, the company behind the equipment is as important as the system's functionality.
Before involving a manufacturer in the selection process, your organization should assemble a multi-disciplinary team to drive the project and establish decision-making criteria. Ideally, this group should be comprised of 20 to 30 members, led by nursing administration and managers while also representing pharmacy, IT leadership and IT support. The time required to accomplish this first step will vary according to the size of the hospital and other factors, but do not let your team fall victim to an unrealistic deadline. Skipping steps or making erratic decisions can have serious patient care and budget consequences.
Never underestimate the importance of support
Many organizations make the mistake of not giving enough thought or devoting enough time to researching how manufacturers will handle implementation, training and long-term support. Like any device that will be used daily and around the clock, mobile computing solutions require maintenance resources. Their primary users — nurses — generally have no support capability, and the IT staff in busy hospitals often rely on hardware and software vendors to service their products. The selection committee must establish whether the facility is best served designating in-house support for mobile computing or relying on the vendor for maintenance issues.
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