Posted on

6 Ways to Help Reduce Nurse Fatigue in 2023

reduce nurse fatigue 2023

When it is your job to constantly take care of others, you want to ensure that you also take care of yourself. In the healthcare world, this seems obvious, but nurses are at huge risk of constant fatigue

Nursing is a demanding profession that usually requires long hours, intense focus, and a lot of physical, and emotional strength. Nurse fatigue is a common issue seen in the healthcare industry, and can have serious consequences like decreased job satisfaction, increased risk of medical errors, and even compromised safety. Fortunately, there are several ways to help reduce nurse fatigue that we will discuss below. But first, let’s learn more about what fatigue is.

What is Fatigue? How is it Different From Tiredness?

Fatigue isn’t just simply being tired, it is much more extensive than that. It’s a state of physical and mental exhaustion that affects a person’s ability to function effectively. Occasional fatigue is normal, and many people have probably experienced it at one point or another, but the persistent fatigue that nurses face can be a serious problem.

Persistent fatigue can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, as well as their ability to perform daily activities and work-related tasks. For nurses, this can lead to serious health concerns, jeopardize patient safety, and put employers at risk.

When you are tired, a good night’s sleep and some quick self-care can do the trick, but when you are fatigued, you may need to adjust entire aspects of your life to fully feel better. Managing fatigue is important for maintaining overall health and well-being.

What Causes Fatigue?

Nearly 85% of nurses experience some form of fatigue (career, mental, physical, etc.). So what is causing our essential healthcare workers to feel this way?

The primary cause of fatigue is inadequate sleep. Health issues, bad habits, or intense daily routines can also contribute to fatigue. Because of how frequently their work schedules conflict with the regular pattern of rest, many nurses find it difficult to obtain enough sleep. Being under constant stress with patients and maybe consuming too much caffeine on the job are also cited as causes of fatigue.

Knowing what causes fatigue and preparing healthcare facilities can help diminish major issues. Read the following ways how to help reduce nurse fatigue.

Ways to Reduce Nurse Fatigue

Adequate Rest and Sleep

One of the most essential factors in reducing nurse fatigue is ensuring that nurses get adequate rest and sleep. This can be challenging in a profession that requires unconventional schedules and long hours, but it is essential for maintaining physical and mental health. Nurses should prioritize getting enough sleep – aiming for 7 or more hours – to help keep fatigue away. This may include using earplugs or white noise machines to block out distractions and minimizing exposure to light during sleep hours.

Proper Nutrition and Hydration 

Another key factor in reducing nurse fatigue is maintaining proper nutrition and hydration. Nurses should aim to eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. They should also stay hydrated by drinking water and avoiding sugary or caffeinated beverages (we know energy drinks are important for long work days but too much caffeine can worsen fatigue).

Proper nutrition and hydration can help maintain energy levels and reduce feelings of fatigue throughout the day. Additionally, healthcare facilities should make sure their staff has easy access to healthy food and snack options.

Prioritize Breaks and Self-Care 

Nurses should be able to take regular breaks and ensure they have adequate time off to recharge, recover, and enjoy life. This may mean taking a short walk, stretching, or doing a mindfulness exercise during a break. It also means ensuring that nurses have enough time off between shifts to rest and recover.

Allowing nurses to work flexible schedules can help them figure out what their individual needs are to feel well-rounded in their careers. Additionally, simple self-care for as little as 10 minutes a day can help nurses feel happier, healthier, and more satisfied with their jobs.

Ergonomic Workspaces

Nurses spend a lot of time on their feet performing physically demanding tasks. So finding a way to make the work environment more ergonomic will be beneficial to reducing fatigue. This may include using proper lifting techniques, adjusting the height of equipment to avoid awkward positions, and using comfortable and supportive footwear.

Ergonomic workspaces, such as Workstations on Wheels (WOWs) can help reduce physical strain and prevent fatigue. DATACART™ medical carts provide nurses with convenient sit-to-stand capabilities and ergonomic accessories that will give them much-needed rest while still being able to properly complete their daily tasks. Medical carts may even help nurses become more productive and efficient.

Supportive Work Environment

Creating a supportive work environment is essential for reducing nurse fatigue. This includes having a positive workplace culture that values teamwork, communication, and mutual respect. Nurses should feel comfortable raising concerns and providing feedback on work processes that may be contributing to fatigue. A supportive work environment can also help reduce stress and prevent burnout.

Set Boundaries

When a job demands dealing with families, sick individuals, and other coworkers, it is easy to get overwhelmed by constant interactions. Setting boundaries can help keep nurses motivated throughout their careers and prevent them from becoming overburdened by the number of individuals they must engage with each day.

Posted on

The Value Of A Powered Computer Cart

A powered computer cart is a versatile and valuable piece of equipment that can be used in a variety of settings, including hospitals, IT departments, and schools. These carts are designed to hold and power a computer and other electronic devices, making them an ideal solution for workstations on wheels

There are many benefits to using powered carts in everyday operations. Here are some of the top considerations that will add value to your workspace: 

Value Of Utilizing Powered Computer Carts

example of powered computer cart

Portable Power 

In a perfect world, our technology would stay powered 100% of the time without any need to recharge. With a powered computer cart, you can achieve this standard for a longer period of time. Traditional medical carts rely on power cords or extension cords to remain powered up. With a powered computer cart, you can bring power anywhere that is needed without continually swapping out equipment.

DATACART powered carts are powered by a highly efficient power solution giving exceptional battery life. The high-quality innovative design ensures that the battery pack is a perfect combination of maneuverability and ergonomics in a compact design. Additionally, each cart has backup integrated power cords in case you run into any issues with the power supply. 

Information In One Place 

Being able to easily maneuver a computer cart from place to place is a lifesaver in many situations. Whether you’re working in the medical field or a home office, you have a million tasks to tackle. Documents, data, and tools all need a specific place to be stored. With our carts, you can have compartments to allow for document storage, cable management, and accessory additions

Limit Fatigue 

Reducing trips back and forth for power sources is one way powered carts limits fatigue. Our powered medical carts also integrate a push-button for electric sit-to-stand adjustments. Research suggests that prolonged standing at work has been associated with various potential health problems such as lower back and leg pain, fatigue, and cardiovascular problems. 

After walking and being on your feet all day, it’s highly beneficial to be able to bring your workspace down to a seated level with just the push of a button. Many of our computer carts feature this quick sit-to-stand ability but it is even more efficient on our powered carts that are practically self-serving to any professional needs. 

Multi-use Areas 

The multi-usability of powered carts takes all of the benefits and applies them in many different situations. DATACART powered carts are made to tackle many environments including hospitals, IT departments, and schools. There are many custom-powered cart configurations regardless of the profession and the benefits can be broken down like this:  

Hospitals 

In hospitals, powered medical carts provide a convenient and efficient way for medical staff to access patient information and perform other tasks while on the go. These carts can be easily moved from room to room, allowing doctors, nurses, and other staff members to keep up with their work and stay organized. They can also be fitted with specialized medical equipment, such as EKG machines, making it easy to collect patient data at the point of care and reducing the need for patients to be transported to another area of the hospital.

IT Departments

In IT departments, powered computer carts can be used to provide mobile support for computer systems. They can be equipped with the necessary tools and equipment to troubleshoot and repair computers and other electronic devices. This can save time and resources by allowing IT staff to quickly respond to issues and provide on-site support.

Schools 

In schools, powered computer carts can be used to provide students with access to technology and telehealth services. These carts can be equipped with laptops or tablets, and easily be moved from room to room. It allows students to have increased access to telehealth services to help students, faculty, and staff alike stay or become healthy without the need to travel for an appointment.

In summary, powered computer carts provide a convenient and efficient solution for mobile computing needs in hospitals, IT departments, and schools. They can be easily moved and equipped with the necessary tools, allowing staff to stay organized and productive while on the go. If your staff could benefit from a powered computer cart, contact us today to see how we can customize a cart to your needs.

Posted on

Top 5 Nursing Trends in 2023

Top 5 nursing trends in 2023

As we look ahead into the future of nursing, there are a lot of things that are likely to change as hospitals and healthcare systems continue to evolve and address many of the current nursing issues and concerns of their staff.

There are many trends that we see as possibilities in 2023, but here are some of the trends in nursing that we think we will see play a big part throughout the next year.

Telehealth/Telemedicine is New Normal

In 2023, nurses of all experience levels should expect to have normal interactions within telehealth services. As medical facilities and hospital systems need to see more and more patients, telemedicine proves to have many advantages to help provide quality care.

A 2022 study conducted by J.D. Power found that overall, 94% of respondents who had used telehealth services in the past year would “probably” use the service in the future. They also found that “among patients using telehealth in the past year, 80% say they prefer telehealth for prescription refills; 72% say they prefer telehealth for reviewing medication options; and 71% say they prefer telehealth for discussing test results. Another 57% of patients say they prefer telehealth for regular mental health visits.” 

The top reasons for using telehealth are convenience, quick care, and accessibility. Care teams may be reached anywhere in the country, and information can be sent immediately to them using any device with an Internet connection. Patients and healthcare professionals have taken advantage of this to keep up communication and care throughout the pandemic, and there is no indication that this will change.

For nurses, this can mean a shift in responsibility to get meetings prepped and, in some circumstances, having them run the entire appointment with the doctor coming in to give a final diagnosis or treatment. This calls for expertise in remote technologies and the capacity to deliver healthcare in virtual settings.

Nursing Shortage To Continue

The largest nursing shortage the U.S. has ever seen is a result of both a growing need for nursing staff to care for patients with more complicated healthcare requirements and a declining supply of nurses. The shortage is expected to continue throughout 2023. 

The nursing shortage also affects the quality of care that patients receive. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may struggle to meet the demands of patients, leading to longer wait times, increased patient-to-nurse ratios, and higher rates of burnout among young nurses.

Efforts to address the nursing shortage include increasing the number of nursing school graduates, offering incentives for nurses to remain in the workforce, and creating more flexible work schedules to attract and retain nurses. Additionally, the use of technology and telehealth can be a way to alleviate the shortage by allowing nurses to reach more patients remotely.

“The number of people entering the nursing workforce is increasing, but it is not keeping pace with the need,” says Maryann Alexander, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, chief officer of nursing regulation at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in Chicago. “Additionally, the number of advanced practice registered nurses is increasing.”

A number of states are evaluating the minimum number of general nurses needed for staff positions and increasing financing for healthcare facilities. For the purpose of increasing the number of new nurses, some states are now investing in nursing education, and some universities are increasingly offering rolling admission for nurse-related studies. Finally, other states are considering increasing pay and establishing better, safer healthcare ratios. 

Federal Funding Increase

The U.S. Department of Labor announced $80 million in grants to encourage more nurses to enroll in nursing schools and expand the number of nursing professors. The funds will help train additional nurse faculty, who in turn will educate more nurses.

Organizations that suggest plans to aid underrepresented groups as they enroll in nursing programs will be given grants. Successful grant applications will put forth initiatives that foster community relationships and recruit new nurses.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that, “more than 275,000 additional nurses are needed from 2020 to 2030, and that employment opportunities for nurses will grow at 9 percent, faster than all other occupations from 2016 through 2026.”

Despite general nursing shortages, this federal funding is estimated to be a substantial solution to fixing healthcare gaps that may be experienced.

More Travel Nurse and Per Diem Roles

Healthcare facilities have turned to travel and per diem nurses to fill staffing gaps and ensure safe patient care. Traveling nurses are a select group of nurses that are willing to travel the country to work in hospitals and healthcare facilities when they are short-staffed. These contracts could last only a few weeks or multiple months, depending on need. This has become an increasingly good option for hospitals looking to cover a short-staffed department while they are in the process of hiring someone new.

This is also very lucrative for new nurses who are willing to travel often to new cities and new facilities because they can be paid 2–3 times the amount that a standard nurse would be paid.

With an increase in the number of traveling and per diem nurses in a facility, it is critical to ensure that your medical facility can quickly train this staff and has all of the technology and equipment they require to do their jobs effectively.

Focus on Mental Health

It’s no secret that these last few years have been extremely rough on healthcare professionals. Many of them have been asked to work long hours in tough conditions, often to the point of burnout. Through doing that, there has been an incredible new focus on making sure that nurses are not only appreciated but also given the time needed to recover properly from a tough shift and have the resources they need to do their jobs.

A 2022 survey conducted by Reputation Leaders found that 58% of nursing professionals were not regularly offered grief counseling, and 37% of nurses did not feel supported in their mental health (that is within the same ratio as the graph percentage above).

This renewed focus on mental health for nurses is a fantastic thing for them, medical facilities, and patients alike. The nursing staff is often the front line of communication between the medical team and the patient. A nurse that is refreshed and given resources to focus on mental health can better communicate with patients and provide overall better care with improved outcomes. This means the patient gets excellent care and may be able to recover more quickly and have a better overall experience.

What is not to love about that?

Takeaways

The most important takeaway from the trends in nursing for 2023 is that although there aren’t many new or revolutionary things coming within the new year, there will be expanded efforts on nurses’ education, funding, and mental health. Nursing staff deserve to feel valued, taken care of, and balanced.

Posted on

Benefits of Workstations on Wheels in Healthcare

Workstation on Wheels Blog

How are Workstations on Wheels used in healthcare?

Medical carts, also known as Workstations on Wheels (WoW) or Computers on Wheels (CoW), are used in a wide variety of different healthcare facilities. These workstations offer a range of benefits for healthcare professionals, patients, and facilities alike. With increased mobility and efficiency at the top of the benefits list, medical facilities can accomplish their goals faster than ever. 

Let’s dig into the various benefits of WoWs!

Streamline workflow

There are more opportunities to streamline workflows in healthcare facilities. Until very recently, staff needed to make several trips back and forth between their standard workstations, offices, and patient rooms. This is an incredibly inefficient process that, while the amount of extra time for each trip isn’t large, the overall lost time adds up to a large number.

Workstations on Wheels improve efficiency by allowing healthcare professionals to access patient information and perform tasks quickly and easily. These workstations help save time and increase productivity. This is particularly important in healthcare environments, where time is of the essence.

With WoWs, you can access information as soon as it becomes available from anywhere in the hospital. Furthermore, powered medical carts can be utilized throughout the day without needing to plug in or charge up. No more having to find an outlet; just charge the batteries during non-use, and you’ll be powered up all day long.

Optimize Productivity

Needless to say, working in the healthcare industry can be a very tiresome job at times. When you are constantly juggling patients, being on your feet, or carrying lots of documents from room to room, you are bound to feel drained. 

One constant issue in the medical industry is the need to find ways to make staff more efficient in their day-to-day work. In a hectic place like an emergency room or hospital, this is far from an easy task. One of the biggest ways that Workstations on Wheels help medical professionals and medical facilities alike is their ability to make everyone more efficient.

Making sure more patients can be visited by providing proper storage, giving staff more energy with ergonomic medical carts, and adding additional technology that makes knowledge transfer easier are all things that Workstations on Wheels can help with.

Additionally, DATACART™ medical carts provide staff with convenient sit-to-stand capabilities that will give your staff a much-needed change.

Increased Accessibility

In addition, mobile workstations can improve patient care by providing healthcare professionals with easy access to patient information. The amount of data we have now in the healthcare industry is an incredible advancement. At a moment’s notice, medical professionals can have the entire history of an individual. That information can help ensure that the patient is cared for properly. This can help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions and provide more accurate and effective treatment.

This is where WoWs can become extremely helpful. Although it is nice to have everything remotely online, files are still a common backup in most medical facilities.

DATACARTsecure carts make sure that these records are kept safe with an accessory like a locking storage drawer and that your hardware cannot be stolen by locking your laptop or computer into place. Healthcare is more accessible and secure than ever before.

That is why WoWs are perfect for telemedicine visits as well. With patient documents having a secured online database and WoWs offering doctors remote working spaces, telehealth is becoming the top choice for routine care post-pandemic. 

Cleanliness

Lastly, maintaining a clean environment is essential. While Workstations on Wheels can’t clean the facility for you, they won’t be something your staff needs to be overly concerned about. All our computer carts are antimicrobial, made of materials that are easy to clean. We also have accessories to hold Sani-Wipes directly on the carts!

Additionally, since WoWs make remote healthcare more accessible, they reduce the risk of infection transmission by avoiding unnecessary movement of patients or doctors.

How does your staff use Workstations on Wheels to make their jobs easier? In what ways can your facility benefit from medical carts? These workstations are a must-have for any healthcare facility looking to improve patient outcomes and streamline operations.

What is great is that DataCart™ mobile workstations are completely customizable to meet your needs. We can provide whatever solutions you require to increase the efficiency of your staff!

Posted on

The Continued Rise Of Telehealth In Schools

continue rise of telehealth in todays schools

Telemedicine refers to the use of video conferencing, phone calls, and texts to provide medical care remotely. It’s estimated that 80% of medical facilities now use some kind of telemedicine technology. At Uniti Health, the new focus is pushing telemedicine in K-12 schools.

In schools, telemedicine can be used to connect students and school staff with healthcare professionals for a variety of purposes, including diagnoses and treatment. Looking to the future of medicine, the increased accessibility of behavioral health, wellness, and concussion treatments is a game-changer.

How Will Telemedicine Work in Schools?

How schools will receive virtual care and what type of care they will receive depends on a school’s budget, current infrastructure, and core needs. Uniti Health works with schools to assess all these factors and give the best recommendations on telemedicine programs. Here are just a few ways that telemedicine may be used:

Virtual Visits

Students and school staff can use telemedicine to connect with healthcare providers for virtual visits. This can be especially useful for individuals who may not have access to healthcare facilities or those who prefer to receive care from the comfort of their own homes and school.

Having this access also gives parents the ability to approve their children’s care needs without leaving work. Students can receive quick answers and recommendations for minor issues or visit teleorthopedics if they get injured in practice. Telemedicine will become the new normal as more schools adopt programs into their systems.

Behavioral Health

Behavioral health care, including treatment for mental health, can be provided through virtual visits. Teletherapy or telebehavioral health can involve therapy sessions, psych evaluations, and medication monitoring. This gives a huge advantage to students who couldn’t readily receive behavioral health care otherwise.

Diagnoses

Some health concerns can be easily diagnosed just by telling a physician what your symptoms are. Getting health professionals to review student/staff symptoms and perform virtual exams reduces the time people have to wait to receive treatment and speeds up recovery time.

Although telemedicine is very accurate and reliable, it is noted for more serious health conditions like allergic reactions and shortness of breath, the patient should be taken to see urgent or emergency services as soon as possible.

Treatment

Depending on the condition being treated, telemedicine can provide ongoing treatment and follow-up care to students and school staff. This can include things like medication management, therapy sessions, diabetes management, and other forms of monitored care.

Students won’t need to take many trips from school to the doctor to home, instead, they can get diagnosed and prescribed treatment in one place before heading back to the comfort of their homes.

Telemedicine Cart Selection

Implementing telemedicine into schools means also looking into how to source these virtual visits efficiently around the school. DATACART is here to help with the best telehealth and telemedicine carts in the industry. When it comes to selecting the right telemedicine cart, there are some important factors to consider.

Key Factors for Cart Selection

You don’t need to be a licensed health professional to operate a medical cart. If you can operate a laptop or tablet, you can operate one of our medical carts. That is why we want to highlight some of the best key factors of our carts and give recommendations depending on what you’re looking for.

For in-school use, we recommend DATACART™ Small Form Factor (SFF) carts and smaller telemedicine carts. Here’s why:

Mobility

Schools and hospitals are similar because they host a lot of individuals all at once, usually in multiple different rooms across many floors. Being able to bring a cart around to different classrooms or pass them along easily from child to child is a huge advantage to have because there wouldn’t necessarily need to be a designated room for your telemedicine cart.

Compact Size and Small Footprint

With all the supplies and storage issues at schools, the small footprint and compact size of each medical cart make it hassle-free. SFF carts especially won’t take up a lot of space but all recommended carts are extremely easy to store.

Lightweight

The lightweight design of our carts makes it easy for teachers, nurses, and students alike to move or operate. Even with the added screens, tablets, or monitors, it is easily maneuverable for older children and adults.

Carts to Consider

Depending on what factors you are looking for, there are different carts and accessories to accommodate your needs. As mentioned before, each school’s budget and current infrastructure will be assessed, recommended, and trained on the corresponding telemedicine carts.

For smaller, tablet-focused carts we recommend:

For bigger, more equipment-based carts we recommend:

Additionally, if your school is looking for something more compact and discrete to work alongside the in-school nurses and counselors we recommend checking out our telehealth kits.

You can find a comprehensive list of telehealth/telemedicine carts here and more SFF carts here.

Takeaways

Overall, telehealth is becoming more integrated into K-12 schools than ever before. The benefits of easy and quick access are beneficial to everyone involved. Telemedicine will continue to be an essential part to ensure students and teachers alike receive proper healthcare needs, especially since schools are implementing more technology into their curriculum.

Contact DATACART for more information on our telehealth/telemedicine carts and accessories.

Posted on

New and Improved Electronic Lift to Partner With Your DATACART™ Medical Cart

new and improved electronic lift

Our relationship with TiMOTION allows us to expand our medical non-powered cart solutions for clients looking for increased mobility that fits their needs.

It is important that medical carts continue to adjust and adapt to the advancements in daily services. That is why we try to constantly improve our non-powered medical cart features. We believe an electric lift may improve our carts tremendously. Working with TiMOTION will give DATACART™ non-powered medical carts an electric lifting column feature that offers increased ergonomics.

Benefits of Using an Electric Lifting Column

Increased Stability and Accuracy

We are always looking to improve all our medical carts to best serve our clients. The typical pneumatic lift system works well, however, the electric lift has increased ergonomic stability and accuracy.

Adding TiMOTION’s electric lift to DATACART™ products will add a high level of precision and control that provides a smooth, jerk-free movement. The control systems and motion components work together in multiple situations that work well for our multiple non-powered carts. 

These electric lifts will allow our clients to raise their medical carts and monitors vertically while retaining a high degree of stability and bending movement.

Greater Weight and Height Capacities

It is important to have a cart that can handle the demands of work. Sometimes lifts need to be awkwardly adjusted because of weight issues, or simply don’t have the capability to move into a sitting position. With the new electric lift system added to our medical carts, you no longer need to worry about weight or height issues interfering with sit-to-stand capabilities. 

We know that when it comes to weight capacity on medical carts, more is always better. The weight capabilities nearly double with the electric lift thanks to the motor that can hold more than the average pneumatic lift. DATACART combined with the electric lift is reliable enough that you won’t need help lifting your medical carts due to weight issues. Furthermore, there is little to no maintenance associated with the lifts.

The ergonomic height adjustment system allows you to adjust your work surface from 24 inches (low end) to 50 inches (high end) with just the push of a button. This 26-inch stroke offers a much greater range to our clients. This means any person can adjust the height to their preferences without additional assistance.

Improved Day to Day Work Quality

Work is stressful enough, the last thing you need to worry about is your medical cart not cooperating as you’d like. TiMOTION’s electric lifts will increase the ergonomic ability of our non-powered medical carts to utilize human energy most efficiently. 

Constantly moving around on the job can be tiring. The last thing you need to stress about is your medical cart. The electronically controlled lift allows you to easily adjust the height of your cart from a seated position to quickly adjust back to a standing position, with just a simple button. Dual monitors can also easily take advantage of these fast height adjustments regardless of weight. You can provide the best service to your patients while smoothly carrying out your job.

Combining our medical carts with electronically controlled lifts will allow for added comfort, easy movement, and simple usability.

Customizable

Being able to customize your medical cart to your needs is what DATACART strives for. With TiMOTION’s electric lift added to our carts, your customization options increase. The different electric lift models can be integrated into different carts that fit your exact needs. The positioning capabilities and velocity control for each electric lift allow for synchronization that matches you. 

You can also have any monitor configurations that you need. Looking to have a single monitor on your lift? How about adding dual monitors to your medical cart to increase your screen space? Both of these configurations can be easily customized without worrying about height, weight, or awkward lifting. 

On top of customizing, the new electric lifts are more compact and elegant making them more simple to operate. Our relationship with TiMOTION brings a whole new level of usability solutions. Contact us today and see how we can help increase your work quality with our new and improved medical carts with electric lifts.

Posted on

How Medical Tablet Carts Impact Healthcare

medical table carts impact

Many industries have seen an increase in technological advances and virtual work in the past decade. With the shifts in technology, many things are more accessible now than ever.

One of these things being how the healthcare industry provides patient care. Tablet carts are one of the more consistent and effective ways providers are treating their patients, in and out of the office.

What Are Medical Tablet Carts & How Are They Helping Healthcare?

DATACART™ medical tablet carts are designed to help you improve the efficiency and productivity of your healthcare facility. Because these carts are so versatile, they can be used in a variety of settings, from outpatient clinics to large hospitals.

Medical tablet carts are the perfect solution to some of the common problems found in healthcare facilities. These mobile carts can be used to store and transport a variety of different items, from medical files to pharmaceuticals, offering increased efficiency and productivity while saving valuable space.

The first step with ordering tablet carts is determining how these carts can benefit you. Once you know how you want to use them, you can begin searching for the right one for your needs.

Here are some of the ways a tablet cart can be beneficial in healthcare:

Smaller Size

Medical tablet carts are compact enough that they won’t consume much space in an area where there is already limited room. This makes them ideal for use in offices with limited floor space or small exam rooms where there isn’t enough room for a regular desk and chair setup.

Tablet Secure Roll Stand
small form factor cart

Your storage space won’t suffer while you provide the best care for your patients. The two main medical tablet carts DATACART™ offers are the Small Factor Form (SFF) cart with a Tablet mount and the Tablet Roll stand cart. Both carts offer similar benefits to a larger medical cart, but in a fraction of the size — both less than 35 pounds.

The smaller footprint on these carts also plays into the next benefit of the greater mobility that is achieved.

Greater Mobility

The mobile design allows you to take your medical tablet cart anywhere in your facility without having to worry about moving furniture or rearranging the layout of your office. You can even move it outside if necessary.

Additionally, using tablets to work from allows the nurses and doctors alike to easily detach and attach these tablets anywhere and return them to the easy locking mechanisms on the carts.

Increased Accessibility

The ability to easily access the items on a medical tablet cart means that your staff will spend less time searching for things they need. This not only saves time but also helps ensure that your staff members don’t forget important items when they’re working with patients.

Another aspect of accessibility is the relationship between telehealth and telemedicine. Unlike traditional telehealth carts, tablet carts are much more accessible in size and less intimidating for patients. Furthermore, quarantined physicians and patients can still receive care in and out of the office.

A quarantined physician or potentially sick patient can still provide or seek care remotely. Everyone is bound to get sick at some point during the year, this highly includes our physicians that work with potentially sick patients every day. A quarantined physician could provide resources or simple care when they can access a tablet or tablet cart from any space.

While there are specific telehealth and telemedicine carts that are made for this specific type of care, a patient could still hear from their provider in a more personal way by using the tablet carts to provide swift and easy care.

Improved Workflow & Productivity

A tablet cart can help improve workflow by making it easier for doctors and other staff to provide care. Tablet carts also adjust smoothly for great sit-to-stand capabilities. This reduces stress and improves efficiency while also improving patient care by reducing wait times.

Since medical tablet carts are easy to use, that means both experienced and inexperienced users will find them simple to operate. They come with a variety of features that make it easy for you to handle medical records, communicate with patients and their families, and conduct other tasks quickly.

With fewer trips back and forth between rooms, you’ll see an increase in productivity throughout your facility. This is especially true for nurses who need to move quickly from room to room as part of their job responsibilities.

With a medical tablet cart, nurses can easily transport supplies from one room to another without having to make multiple trips back down hallways or up staircases. Just pick up your tablet or roll your cart to the next room to continue providing care to your patients.

Lifesaving Organization

One of the last main reasons tablet carts are extremely effective is that they allow users to organize their supplies in an easy-to-access manner. Physicians can quickly access the internet for educational information, medical documents, healthcare resources, and other general concerns patients may have rather than having them piled up on shelves or difficult-to-reach spaces when needed in an emergency situation.

With the convenient storage attachments on the tablet carts, you have everything you need at your fingertips in a compact & simple design. Contact us today to discuss how our DATACART™ medical tablet carts can benefit your facility!

Posted on

Top 10 Healthcare Statistics In 2022

top 10 healthcare statistics in 2022

Healthcare is a continually changing and upgrading industry. Trends arise, technology is introduced, and breakthroughs are made daily. As one of the top growing industries, or as a company serving one of the top growing industries, it is beneficial to stay informed on statistics and changing needs of the industry. Through our research, these are the top 10 healthcare statistics that we found for 2022.

1 – There are now 784,626 healthcare businesses in the United States alone, and this figure is constantly increasing.

The US boasts the biggest healthcare system globally, and its increasing business numbers and revenue. According to PolicyAdvice, Patient care accounts for $1.068 trillion or 64% of the US’s healthcare revenue. Meanwhile, inpatient care, which includes skilled nursing rehabilitation and non-surgical dental interventions, makes up 4.49% and 2.98%, respectively.

2 – Healthcare is the third-largest industry in the U.S.

Since 2020, healthcare spending has accounted for 19.7% of the U.S. economy, which was a dramatic increase from 5% just 60 years ago. According to Zippia, this growth represents a range of factors, from new healthcare treatments and services to better coverage, higher utilization, and rising prices across many of the industry’s sectors.

3 – The use of digitalization in healthcare institutions is promoted by 92% of suppliers of various healthcare solutions.

Digitalization in healthcare helps to reduce costs, increase productivity, and avoid time-restricted diagnosis’. The rise of digitalization promotion makes it a great time to invest in digital healthcare trends and equipment. According to PolicyAdvice, Experts predict a massive acceleration of digital technology in healthcare, which includes cloud computing, data security, and other tools.

4 – One in seven people (14%) who used telehealth said they would have sought care in an emergency department or urgent care if telehealth was not available.

This survey conducted showcased that access to telehealth effectively kept people out of the emergency department. More than half of those 14% of people who used telehealth had their primary health issue resolved.

5 – The average healthcare employee earns $60,976 a year in the US.

According to health statistics, healthcare is the largest source of employment in the U.S. – employing an average of 1 in 8 citizens. The health industry is also one of the highest paying industries, reaching well above the national average ($47,060).

6 – Healthcare is the largest and fastest-growing industry.

Healthcare is the largest and fastest-growing industry in the U.S. and globally. It is predicted that between 2020 and 2030 employment in healthcare occupations is expected to grow by at least 16%.

7 – As of 2020, one-third of U.S. adults had a telehealth visit for themselves or a dependent.

As digitalization is on the rise, so are telehealth and telemedicine. Telehealth visits are rapidly becoming more popular, and the growth in telehealth users is expected to boom within the years to come.

8 – 86% of physicians believe data interoperability will significantly cut the time to diagnosis.

Physicians recognize the importance of having the right information at the right time. According to Google, virtually all physicians (96%) agree that easier access to critical information may help save a patient’s life and 95% believe increased data interoperability will ultimately help improve patient outcomes. For more information on how DataCart’s products emphasize the importance of data interoperability, check out this blog on our Telestroke Carts.

9 – According to U.S. adults, factors that are important when interacting with healthcare include:

  • Ease of access to care (89%)
  • Privacy (89%)
  • Data security (88%)
  • Getting personalized care (88%)
  • Having a care provider close to home or work (85%)
  • Healthcare costs (85%)
  • Coordination among all healthcare providers (84%)
  • Being able to monitor their own health (75%)
  • Access to a health coach (68%)

10 – The most common purpose for a telehealth visit was a preventive service, prescription refill, or routine visit for a chronic illness (63%).

As virtual visits continue to increase in popularity, they’re becoming more common for simplistic and routine visits.

The healthcare industry will continue to grow and evolve daily, as will the trends, technology, and statistics. It’s important to keep up on relevant news stories, information, and press releases to stay informed and update processes as the industry continues to change and grow.

Sources:

Posted on

Advantages And Solutions For A Secure Computer Cart In Healthcare

solutions for a secure computer cart

When you order a medical cart from DataCart, it’s more than a purchase – it’s a company investment. With that large of an investment, you’re going to want to protect your workstation on wheels and everything that goes with it at all costs. Here at DataCart, we provide multiple options for multi-levels of security to equip your medical cart properly and to take advantage of a secure computer cart.

Secure Computer Carts, Mounts, and Storage

Secure Laptop Cart

If you’re in the market to purchase a new medical cart and security is a focus of yours, our Secure Laptop Cart is a perfect option. With optimal security options throughout the cart, the computer is placed in the cart combo-locked pan for security.

The workstation is built for quiet, discreet operation and is great for various care centers. A pull-out keyboard and mouse tray retracts with a soft-close mechanism for minimal intrusiveness and maximum security. This cart is specifically designed to keep the workstation laptop safe and secure. Complete with hideaway items and locking compartments right on the cart itself.

Secure Tech Enclosure Cart

Similar to our Secure Laptop Cart, our Secure Tech Enclosure Cart comes with an adjustable locking laptop compartment to fit any laptop type. With added security accessories, this cart can be customized into an even more safe and secure computer cart beyond just the laptop compartment. The Secure Tech Enclosed Cart also uses an LCD support arm to mount the cart monitor, helping to keep the monitor secure and fastened.

Small Form Factor (SFF) Cart with Secure Tablet Mount

One of our Small Form Factor Carts has a secure tablet mount option, allowing users to lock a tablet into place. This helps avoid theft or anyone tampering with the tablet computer when the user needs to walk away. The SFF Cart with the secure tablet mount also provides optional locking supply drawers for added security.

Tablet Roll Stand with Secure VESA Mount

Another of our SFF carts, the Tablet Roll Stand, has three different mounting options for multiple levels of security. With the addition of the Secure VESA mount, users can avoid the risk of others tampering with their technology and feel safe leaving their cart if needed.

Security Accessories

DataCart is proud to offer high-quality security accessories from multiple well-renowned businesses. All security accessories can be added to any cart, such as our Kidney or Rectangle Cart, to allow for optimal security options throughout our product line.

Tryten Security Cable

With a similar concept to a bike lock, the Tryten Security Cable helps to keep users’ laptops locked and secure with their choice of a combination or keyed lock. These locks are built to the highest quality standards and come with Tryten’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

AnchorPad Laptop Mount

The AnchorPad Low Profile Double Plate Security System provides a maximum level of security by “locking” laptops to the work surface. When used with an arm mount, the plate is secured with tamper-proof screws that have a unique driver head. These screws can only be removed with the driver we provide with the security system.

AnchorPad’s high-quality and high-security plates are constructed of 16-gauge steel adhered to the work surface by high-strength adhesive foam. The plate system provides 20,000 lbs of pull force. The low-profile design keeps the plate’s visibility to a minimum while still providing maximum security.

Keeping your items safe and secure is extremely important, especially when working in a chaotic and hectic work environment such as healthcare. Let DataCart help you find the best solution to your security worries for a stress-free workstation you know you can trust.

Posted on

How To Effectively Take Advantage Of Powered Medical Carts In Healthcare

How to effectively take advantage of powered medical carts

Are you taking advantage of all the technology that your facility offers?

If you are like many other healthcare facilities and organizations, you have probably made some very large investments into your technology over the last number of years – technology that has significantly changed the medical industry as a whole.

But are you really taking advantage of this technology in the most effective ways? Are you able to deploy the solutions the way that you wanted or are you just finding workarounds that aren’t ideal, but are “good enough”?

If this sounds like you, powered medical carts might be the missing piece of that puzzle.

How to Use Powered Medical Cart Effectively

Powered medical carts are a great solution to solving this new and lasting need in the medical industry. Powered medical carts allow patients to have access to healthcare that they never would have had before. Whether that patient is in-facility and in need of a specialist hundreds of miles away or at home looking to see a doctor for a simple appointment, powered medical carts make the entire process easier by making the technology needed available anywhere, anytime.

Mobile Battery Charging Station and Solution

One of the biggest challenges that facilities always face is maintaining the uptime of technology. Whether you’re dealing with patient records and need your laptops and tablets to stay powered for a longer period of time or you want to have certain devices like scanners or printers at your disposal but also need the ability to power them, powered medical carts can be your one size fits all solution.

Powered workstations allow you to bring power anywhere that it is needed, and ensure that a charge is only a moment away when it is needed with Mobile battery charging stations. This saves doctors and nurses an ample amount of time by eliminating the need to continually swap out uncharged equipment. A great example of this is battery swap stations.

In the case that you have limited space, don’t have the time to swap out carts, or want to keep all your equipment on the same cart without needing to move it, having battery swap stations allows you to simply change the battery on the cart and keep going from room to room without needing to power down completely.

Whether you’re using just one cart or have an entire fleet of powered medical carts, POWERVAR’s MPMView Software Suite gives you the information you need about your carts. With different view options, you can pick the one that is best for your needs. MPM ClinicView’s utilizes a user-friendly toolbar, TechView allows you to view any cart on the LAN via Ethernet, or FleetView which gives you the ability to list and sort your mobile cart inventory as well as include specific information in the reports.

On The Go Information Station

We’ve already talked about the importance of having patient data at your fingertips at all times, but it is so important that we wanted to call it out specifically.

You don’t need us to tell you how different outcomes can depend on the timeliness and accuracy of the patient data, but what you may not see within your facility is how a powered medical cart can make the difference in making this process easier to do.

Our powered medical carts can be outfitted with features like larger external monitors and external keyboards which make the process of data entry easier, clear, and less of a strain. This allows your team to utilize the power of large monitors or even dual screens without the need to power down as they move from one room to another. Allowing them to bring their full suite of technology anywhere they go makes the entire process better.

Build Your Own Powered Medical Cart

Remember that technology investment that we talked about earlier? This is where you really get to see what it can do.

The amazing thing about powered medical carts is that they are the most customizable type of workstation on wheels out there. Because of their access to additional power and the fact they are typically larger and more sturdy, you can really create a medical cart that meets the exact needs of your team and organization by adding accessories of your choice.

No matter the tool, instrument, or bit of technology, our expert team is equipped to find a solution, even if it is something that we have not done before! Being creative with our solutions is what we think separates us from others in the industry that only offer powered medical carts to their limited specifications.

In a world that is changing as quickly as ours, especially in a time with shrinking budgets and limited resources, finding ways to maximize your current technology is a must.

Powered medical carts might be what is missing to help make that happen. While powered carts are typically more expensive and do require additional investment, they often pay back that cost in more efficient use of other technology and through deploying new solutions that you never thought possible before.

We’d love to find a solution for you. Contact us today and ask about our custom-powered medical cart solution – we are sure we can find a solution that works for you!

Posted on

How Telestroke Carts Save Time And Patients

telestroke carts saving time and patients

Experiencing a stroke, whether yourself or others, can be terrifying, stressful, and traumatizing. A stroke, explained by Mayo Clinic, occurs “when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die in minutes.” A stroke is a medical emergency that needs efficient and timely care.

The earlier appropriate actions are taken, the faster the rate of brain damage and other complications is decreased. This is where Telehealth and Telestroke carts come into play to help not only save time but also to help save patients.

What is Telestroke Healthcare?

Telestroke Healthcare is a web-based collaboration of on-site caretakers and a certified neurologist or whomever they choose to video-in. Telestroke Healthcare helps provide services for acute stroke patients in a variety of settings, including mobile stroke units, EDs, intensive care units (ICUs), and medical-surgical units, which do not have access to on-site stroke physician services. The combination of visual, audio and hands-on care comes together with Telestroke Healthcare to get each patient the specific help they need as quickly as possible.

How the Telestroke Cart Saves Patients

When dealing with patients who are experiencing a stroke, time is an extremely important element. With the advancement of telemedicine, patients can get the help they need quicker and easier than ever before. If a patient is experiencing a stroke and there is no neurologist on-site, our Telestroke Cart makes it possible to connect with a specialist via video call. Having access to a video call through our Telestroke Cart is not only more efficient but also quicker than having to transfer patients due to there being no neurologist on-site.

The Telestroke Cart also helps combine verbal and visual treatment – rather than just trying to help over the phone, the neurologist can physically see the patient and help determine the best next steps. With the DataCart Telestroke Cart, you have a PTZ Zoom Camera complete with a camera mount that comes right on the cart itself for high-quality, adaptable video treatment.

Mobility of care is another important element when caring for a patient with a time-sensitive emergency such as a stroke. Our Telestroke Cart allows for movement with the patient as needed, with the flexibility of being able to use the cart in the patients’ room and move with the patient as they need to be moved. The Telestroke Cart is not a location-specific tool, making it the perfect solution for patients’ needs on the go.

How the Telestroke Cart Saves Time

Aside from our Telestroke Cart saving time to get patients the necessary treatment needed, the timely treatment also allows patients to be released quicker and with less rehabilitative needs. This helps not only slim down the time the patient is spending in the hospital but also helps the patients and medical teams recover from the traumatic event quicker and more effectively.

Our Telestroke Cart is highly efficient, equipped, and advanced – complete with customization options including your choice of camera. For more information on the Telestroke Cart and how it can help save your facility time and patients, check out this resource provided by the American Heart Association.

Posted on

Combining Top Of The Line Software With World-Class Telestroke Carts

Combining Top Of The Line Software With World-Class Telestroke Carts

As telehealth continues to be an area of importance in the healthcare industry, so is the need to have the correct equipment and software that can be reliable to get the job done.

That relationship between physical equipment and software is a problem that many in our industry are trying to solve. While others in the industry choose to work independently and hope that their solutions sync later on down the pipeline, we have chosen to take a much more active approach in this marketplace, ensuring that we work with those providing the best software to ensure our customers are getting a solution made to solve problems, not create new ones.

With collaboration being an area of focus for DataCart™ to bring you the best of the best, we’d like to feature a company that is using DataCart’s workstation on wheels solutions to mobilize their software to create amazing patient/provider experiences and improve outcomes.

Optimized Telehealth Software Solutions

ITeT is a telehealth software company offering full-featured, no-code applications to rapidly and cost-effectively deliver solutions, not just products, to their customers. They understand that there is no one size fits all for telehealth. Using ITeT’s no code Admin Panel, features and functionality are enabled/disabled, plug-ins activated, integrated medical devices selected, and content easily managed.

ITeT telehealth solutions support virtual visits, remote patient monitoring (continuous and intermittent), chronic disease management, and specialty consults. They chose DataCart™ to offer a wide range of high-quality telemedicine carts and cases to meet specific customer needs.

“ITeT is all about giving customers solutions that are optimized for their business practices and preferences. DataCart™ supports our quest to deliver the right solutions to our clients.”

Brenda Ecken, ITeT Vice President

Best Practices For Mobilizing Software Using DataCart™’s Best-In-Class Workstation On Wheels Solutions

Providing quality healthcare is important, whether that’s in the office, through virtual visits, or out in the field. ITeT’s telehealth software combines its top-of-the-line platform with the multiple different workstations on wheels and telehealth solutions that DataCart™ offers so that whatever scenario you’re in, you can be confident in your equipment in both your software and physical equipment.

Virtual Patient Visits

When most people think of telehealth, virtual visits are what come to mind first. While it might seem simple on the surface to provide these solutions to patients, ensuring complicance and giving the provider the tools they need to easily track the visit all while providing a smooth experience for the patient requires a much more powerful and customizable telehealth solution than many realize.

With these regular check-ups happening more on a virtual basis, ITeT’s Doctor4U pairs extremely well with the different Telehealth carts from DataCart™ such as our Telestroke Cart. Both Doctor4U and the Telestroke Cart increase the patient’s satisfaction with virtual visits by utilizing the included Logitech 1080p camera on the cart creating a personal touch to virtual visits and eliminating the administrative hassles for both you and the patient.

Chronic Care Management And Home Care Monitoring

Healthcare doesn’t just stop at the office or over a virtual visit, the need for mobile telehealth solutions continues to rise and ITeT combines its Home Care Monitoring solutions with our Portable Telehealth Kits to provide the best to patients no matter the location.

Home Care Monitoring helps lower the number of readmissions and reduces the length of hospital stays for those who still need care but could do so from the comfort of their home. From measuring blood, pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, temperature, and ECG, to sharing images with patients, the portable telehealth kit is a top choice for providers using their Home Care Monitoring solution.

The combination of ITeT’s telehealth solutions and DataCart™’s computer carts and kits have made a positive impact on both the care providers and the patients that they serve. DataCart™’s high-quality craftsmanship, customer services, and USA label allow ITeT to offer customers a wide range of telehealth carts and kits that meet their specific needs which only solidifies the goal of delivering the best solutions to providers.