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Operating Room by Julie E. Williamson Those who view mobile carts as simplistic, unsophisticated pieces of durable medical equipment may want to take a closer look. Though they may not be considered technological marvels, per se, the latest carts are nonetheless vital workhorses that manage to make the most of much-needed floor and corridor space, and enable staff to safely and efficiently move computers and scads of supplies throughout the hospital – all with exceptional ease. For healthcare customers, carts aren’t just about mobile storage. A much broader range of factors are driving their decisions these days, including customization capabilities, maneuverability, footprint, weight and, of course, cost, to name a few. Whether the carts are designed for mobile computing, medication dispensing, or transporting of linens, supplies, equipment and instrumentation, the latest models to hit the market show that cart manufacturers are certainly pulling their weight.
"Today’s carts aren’t what they used to be," said Kenny Jones, national sales manager, S&S MedCart, Houston, TX. "There are many more features and options that make it easy for customers to purchase a cart that is perfectly suited to their own unique needs, and is capable of being reconfigured to meet future requirements." S&S MedCart manufactures medical carts that seamlessly integrate with automated dispensing systems, including medication carts, point-of-care carts, anesthesia carts, emergency crash carts, supply carts, counter-top cabinets, and mobile computing carts. Christina Masengale Hindman, sales manager for Phoenix-based Waterloo Healthcare, said the company is also witnessing significant changes in the marketplace. "With Waterloo’s 35-plus years of manufacturing, we can say that the cart industry has changed more dramatically in the last five years than ever before," she said, adding that easy of use and safety are key factors in the shift. Eye on ergonomics That ease of use and safety can come in many forms, with ergonomics being at the heart of many cart designs. Given that job-related musculoskeletal injuries, primarily those related to the back, remain a top concern for healthcare organizations, it’s little wonder so many facilities are in the market for mobile transport units that can helps minimize those risks. Virtually every major medical carts manufacturer is focusing its efforts on ergonomic-friendly features and design elements, beginning with more lightweight frames that can withstand years of heavy use without taking a physical toll on staff. Lightweight aluminum is becoming more prominent, offering at least a 30% weight reduction over traditional steel-constructed models, and many vendors offer high-density polymer platforms as well, which also aim to take a bite out of excessively-heavy transporting. Improved swivel casters, adjustable push handles and smaller footprints all succeed in enhancing maneuverability and user comfort. Carts manufactured by Artromick International, Columbus, OH, are built around a precision-welded uni-body frame, surrounded by high-density panels and a hard surface cart top. The company’s medical cart drawers feature integrated divider systems and a lightweight seamless design for ease of use and durable performance. What’s more, the high-density polyethylene carts offer seamless design, allowing for easy cleanability and no threat of rust, corrosion or degradation of product appearance or function, Artromick notes.
Mobile computing carts and workstations offer additional ergonomic features. S&S MedCart’s new Sidekick Mobile Computing Workstation, for example, features sturdy handgrips for easy maneuverability, a slide-out rotating keyboard tray, an expandable work surface, and motorized height adjustment that positions the monitor and keyboard at optimal height for comfortable use with a simple touch of a button. A motorized height adjustment feature is also available on the Initi Mobile Computing WorkStation by Artromick International allowing users to comfortably record data from a sitting or standing position. In February, InterMetro Industries Corp., Wilkes-Barre, PA, introduced its Computerized Workstation, which comes equipped with a slide-out keyboard tray and adjustable height work surface, along with a built-in ergonomic footrest. JACO Inc., Franklin, MA, will be offering its "next generation" ZXP computing cart in the fourth quarter of 2006 that will offer even more benefits than an already ergonomically robust ZXP model, which was introduced in 2005. "The next stage will offer more positioning flexibility with the monitor and keyboard to allow for correct viewing and reaching distances," explained JACO’s national sales manager, Gary Brayton. Over the next two to three years, healthcare customers will see even more advancements in the mobile computing segment, according to Todd Ross, marketing director, Artromick. "Advanced user systems, including RFID, biometrics and user recognition features will become commonplace on most carts and storage systems used throughout hospitals." Locked and loaded Of course, there’s more to usability and ease of use than ergonomics alone. Many of the latest carts also offer enhanced flexibility with modular, customizable designs that can be configured – and reconfigured – to meet different needs and user requirements. Herman Miller Inc., Zeeland, MI, offers a range of procedure and supply carts with modular, lightweight and interchangeable components that enable users to quickly change them to handle new demands. New for 2006, JACO’s ZXP cart now accommodates up to four individual drawers, which can be configured in three different formats: full-size, non-locking; full-size, five-position key or auto locking; and locking or unlocking half drawer combinations. Since adding the configurable drawers, sales for the ZXP cart are up more than 50% over last year’s total, according to Brayton. "Having more options helps users make the most of their investment." Waterloo’s Hindman said the company tackles usability on several fronts by incorporating lightweight construction, improved maneuverability, ease of configuration and ample accessory options into its cart platforms. Waterloo’s carts, offered in aluminum and steel, are also built to order, allowing the customer to determine the size, configuration and color – at no extra cost. Medline Industries, which has experienced triple digit growth this year compared to the same period last year, has found its made-to-order carts to be quite popular with consumers. "We are developing carts in response to our customers’ needs, both from a product standpoint and on-time delivery," noted John Marks, furniture and equipment, Medline Industries Inc., Mundelein, IL. Security features are also moving front and center, due — in part — to more stringent regulations and standards, such as the medication management standards imposed by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, as part of the agency’s National Patient Safety Goals. Sophisticated locking mechanisms are at the heart of cart security.
Waterloo’s lightweight aluminum cart features a centralized locking system that allows the drawers to lock after the cart itself has been locked. Armstrong’s battery-operated Aluminum Auto-Locking Carts, available in five- or six-drawer configurations, feature SureSeal drawers that close automatically once within approximately an inch of being shut. The Auto-Lock timer can be set from 1 to 998 minutes, or can be shut off so the cart never auto-locks. Other features include the option of manual or automatic locking, a master code for all programming, an access code for normal, daily use, a master manual key override for emergency access, and the ability to accept up to 250 user codes. Locks on Medline’s Lightweight Aluminum Series accept up to 250 user codes and the carts have the ability to record 1,500 entries. Software is also available that allows an administrator to upload data and audit users. Artromick’s Avalo Medication Cart Series is customizable and serves as a platform for existing and emerging medication control technology. The carts offer a choice of five locking systems, including keyless entry with automatic relocking, magnetic stripe card access, keyless narcotic storage and cart user audits. The Avalo AC Medication Cart Series also feature a unique Remote Cart Security Management system that can control the access and user rights of every cart in the facility from a single PC locations. "This greatly enhances medication security and control, which is the precise role of any medication cart," said Ross.
Artromick’s Initi Mobile Computing MedServer line integrates wireless data management with medication safety and control features, such as keyless access with automatic relocking. Medication security on S&S MedCart’s Sidekick Mobile Computing Workstation comes in the form of an individual locking mechanism for each drawer, acceptance of up to 2,000 user-ID access code, Silent Partner Audit Trail and graphical at-a-glance drawer status capabilities, which "lets users view a screen and see if a drawer is open," Jones explained, adding that within a year, customers will have access to carts with fingerprinting and advanced user-ID capabilities. Pulling double-duty A growing number of manufacturers of durable medical equipment are building antimicrobial protection and other infection control design elements into their product lines to help healthcare organizations curb hospital-acquired infections. Cart vendors are no exception. According to Hindman, Waterloo
Healthcare Metro protects its products against microbes by using an antimicrobial additive during the manufacturing process. The majority of Metro’s antimicrobial products feature built-in Microban antimicrobial product protection that inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi that cause odors, stains and product degradation. Many other cart manufacturers, including JACO and S&S MedCart, are conducting research on the benefits antimicrobials may provide and are considering offering the protection in future platforms.
"There’s no doubt that customers are wanting more from their carts," said Jones. "Although their main purpose may be mobile computing, transport and storage, carts’ functions [and options] have become much more sophisticated than that. I think we’ll be seeing much more of that in the near future." HPN
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