Case Study: Mobile Computing Cart Battery Exchange Program Relieves IT Burden

At King's Daughter Medical Center, a battery exchange program ensures mobile computing carts are operational whenever and wherever they are needed. The planned battery replacement of 220 mobile carts at the Center was accomplished in four days, with minimal staff involvement and virtually no disruption to clinical care.

When one hears about the rapid deployment of technology in the clinical setting, discussion often focuses on the demands placed on physicians, nurses, technicians and other personnel. They are required not only to learn new and unfamiliar software, but also to adapt to new workflow processes and practice protocols. Without a doubt, the transition to technology is challenging for clinical staff. But it has an equally significant impact on information technology departments. With every new system, every new piece of equipment, IT professionals must integrate, manage, maintain and support related soft- and hardware.

Supporting the placement of its mobile computing and medication carts in hospitals, the Rubbermaid Medical battery exchange program (BX) preempts power source failure that could inhibit care delivery and overwhelm IT staff with urgent demands for service throughout the hospital. King's Daughter Medical Center (KDMC) in Ashland, Kentucky, purchased 3 Battery Exchanges with their initial cart purchase. In 4 days last spring, they redeemed their first BX Cycle and had batteries exchanged on the facility's 220-cart fleet. Rubbermaid Medical service technicians completed the work with oversight by a single KDMC IT staff member, and carts were absent from their units less than 10 minutes each.

The BX is structured so that, when 15% of a facility's batteries have experienced diminished capacity, Rubbermaid Medical staff initiates a scheduled maintenance visit to exchange all batteries in the fleet. A field engineer is assigned to the project, and he or she assigns the appropriate number of service technicians to ensure the project is completed quickly and with as little disruption to clinical care as possible. Rubbermaid Medical delivers new batteries – often by the pallet-load – to the facilities shipping dock so that all equipment is on hand when the exchange begins. Access This Content To Read This White Paper In Its Entirety.