Whether your facility needs an all-purpose utility cart or a highly intuitive medication cart, there are an overwhelming number of options to choose from. Moving way beyond the standard red emergency, yellow isolation, or blue anesthesia carts, HPN explores some of the newest offerings in these all-important mobile storage and transfer units.

Anesthesia

S&S MedCart’s Multi-Purpose Partner Cart (PRN-MP) can be used as either a supplies cart or anesthesia cart because it has two programmable time delay options. The Anesthesia option keeps drawers open throughout long procedures, while the Partner option is used for fast immediate relocking of medications and supplies. It incorporates a touch-screen display so users can easily see which drawers are open, up to 500 programmable User-ID access codes, plus SilentPartner Audit Trail to track users. The DrawerCatcher feature captures and locks partially closed drawers.

Emergency

When seconds count, the emergency cart becomes a life-or-death device. Several of today’s emergency carts have been designed with the input of emergency room personnel to assure the ultimate in convenience and safety. One such company that redesigned its emergency cart to the specifications of ER nurses is Waterloo Healthcare. The company’s ER2000 Instant Access Emergency Cart incorporates a unique break-away seal mechanism.  By pressing the yellow "open" button that shears the seal, the refrigerator-like doors quickly open to reveal transparent drawers, trays and bins with all supplies clearly in view. Special door latches "lock" the doors open and out of the way, avoiding wasted time in opening and reopening drawers.

                                                                                                                       Waterloo

The Lifeline Emergency Crash Cart from InterMetro was designed and field tested by emergency personnel to provide not only storage and transport, but a total emergency workstation. With a flip of the security latch, full extension drawers are released, including a clear medication drawer. The cart is designed for simultaneous access by multiple code team members. An optional defibrillator swing arm unlocks and swings 90 degrees away from the cart top then rotates 180 degrees for convenient placement. The cart also includes "Grab and Go" steering caster system for added control when transferring the cart.

                                                                                                                    InterMetro

Isolation

A new company called Oelwein Industries is designing its carts to be sleek and stylish with
a decidedly contemporary feel. While it does offer the standard yellow isolation cart, it
provides convenient, space-saving options that both nurse and patients will appreciate. Among them are an accessory rail for holding personal items and a pass-through linen receptacle that is stowed inconspicuously on the back of the cart.

                                                                                                                        Artromick

Innerspace/Datel offers it Harmony V line, including an isolation cart. The line is billed as a "value" product due to its economical pricing. The Harmony V isolation cart, like all those in the Harmony V line, comes standard with a convenient pull-out work top.

Innerspace

Procedure

Less than two years ago, Artromick International introduced its Avalo Medical Cart Series. This line
incorporates requested features of hospital workers into its styling, including a lightweight, one-piece seamless molded design, standard simple-to-use keyless locking, stability control features and active retention ball-bearing guide that completes the drawer-closing process. The Avalo Procedure Cart can be configured for a variety of applications including trauma, IV therapy, airway, critical care, dressing, cast, and more.

Artromick

Herman Miller, Inc. recently launched its Electronic Keyless Entry procedure carts. The electronic lock features keyless entry for up to 89 users, plus allows programming by up to 11 supervisors for added flexibility. A programmable time-delay alarm signals that the cart has been left exposed. It also includes a low-battery alert, emergency overrides and tamper lock-down features.

Herman Miller

Specialty

In the way of specialty carts, Oelwein offers an extra-wide cart with 33" drawers that could safely hold supplies for Endoscopy, Bronchoscopy and other surgical applications. The carts include drawers that pull out from both sides. Plus, the Oelwein carts include 6" at the back of cart to hold pass-through options out of the way such as an o2 tank, IV, chart holders, sharps container or waste basket.

                                                                            Oelwein

Armstrong Medical offers several versions of its new Narrow Cart that is made to fit into tight spaces. Made of lightweight aluminum, the Narrow Cart is available with a push-button locking system. InterMetro also offers a unique, dedicated laparoscopic procedure cart in its Starsys Series that includes an overbridge and shelf to put scopes and light sources at easily accessible heights. Swingouts provide additional worksurface and storage space.

Armstrong

Bedside

In a bedside cart, Innerspace/Datel offers the Harmony II carts, with low profile casters for a shortened height. With the Harmony II you have the advantage of being able to remove the 3"plastic tray, while leaving the cart in the room.

                                                                                                                        Innerspace

The Starsys Series from InterMetro includes a preconfigured Bedside Cart with a stationary side storage unit, a chart holder and a lockable tambour door.

InterMetro

Medication

Medication carts are becoming increasingly sophisticated with security mechanisms and point of care computing options.

The Lionville iCart is a mobile medication and computing cart for bar code scanning. With adjustable heights, the cart can be used while sitting or standing.

Lionville

The S&S MedCart Partner Cart series are unit-dose carts that offer a solution for facilities who can’t afford a full-fledged inventory control system.

Artromick’s medication carts allow you custom options in height and capacity, plus several locking options. Choose from magnetic stripe card access, keyless access, automatic relocking. The SlotLock Security System applies to the entire Avalo AC medication cart line, which secures all partially closed drawers and bins left open up to one inch.

                                                                                                                S&S MedCart

Case carts

Several companies focus strictly on these stainless steel operating room staples, including Suburban Surgical, Scientek Hospital, Blickman, The Brewer Company, Imperial Surgical, Pedigo and Scan Modul, among others.

InterMetro

InterMetro’s newly designed line of high and low profile closed case carts include ergonomically designed handles, reduced footprint and a choice of stainless steel or polymer casters. They’ve added roller shelves that easily extend, plus all of InterMetro’s case cart shelves are adjustable at 2 inches increments along the inside height of the cart.

Utility

When you’re looking for a basic workhorse to haul a variety of supplies, you’ll find that many of the same companies that offer case carts, also have utility carts.

Lyon Workspace

InterMetro has several unique versions of the utility cart including its Deep Ledge polymer cart. InterMetro says it is the only company that offers utility carts with Microban® antimicrobial protection that protects them from bacteria, mold and mildew. The 2 ¾ inch deep ledge is designed to contain products and prevent spills.

Lyon Workspace has its Four-Shelf Open Wire chrome-plated utility carts. Available in a variety of widths and depths, the wire carts accommodate a hefty load of up to 1,200 lbs.

Mobile computing

Carts that hold computers are becoming more popular throughout the healthcare facility as automation becomes a necessity. You can find them in a wide variety of styles and with varying functions.

Carstens, Inc. offers the WALKaroo mobile PC cart designed for point-of-care computerized patient charting. To guard against tampering with electronic charting equipment, PC notebooks can be stored and secured under the cart’s work surface by a high-security tubular locking system. Once the notebook is locked in place, a full-sized adjustable keyboard extends to allow for easy patient documentation.

Carstens

Innerspace/Datel has a low-priced Tag Along personal workstation cart that can include an optional lower drawer unit, or optional half tray and wire basket. It also has an adjustable height work surface.

                                                                                                  Innerspace

Armstrong has a new stainless steel eCart for storing sensitive hardware. The eCart includes vents on both sides of the top, on the bottom and on the back panel to allow air to easily circulate. It also includes cable raceways on each side to route cables.HPN                                                                                                                                                Innerspace