The following is excerpted from an IDC Health Industry Insights Report1 that describes criteria to consider when selecting carts and workstations for your facility.

Because MCDs vary greatly in design, functionality, and intent, it’s important to ensure that user needs are carefully considered. Those that will be mounted on carts and used as mobile workstations should adequately accommodate both current and future user requirements. Hospital hardware requirements, wireless point-of-care solution sets, and cart size need to be evaluated. One method to ensure proper "fit" is to consider the answers to the following questions and then select your MCDs and COWs accordingly:

• What is the primary use of each type of MCD (e.g., medication administration, collection of vital signs, critical care, Tele-Med, Tele-Radiology, charting, nursing documentation)?

• Is the peripheral device storage adequate, readily accessible, and ergonomically well designed?

• Will video conferencing or telemedicine functionality be required? (If so, a more robust feature set, higher wireless [or wired] bandwidth, better monitors, etc., may be required.)

• Can the design accommodate multiple monitors?

• Will vital signs be taken? What peripheral equipment should be added to the MCD; to the cart?

• Can the vital signs be directly captured into the MCD? If so, medical device integration considerations should be reviewed.

• Will the MCD supplement or replace existing devices? If so, what is the most cost-effective combination of cart "breeds"?

• Is the cart ergonomically sound and rugged in design?

• Are the monitor, keyboard, and work surface height adjustable?

• Can it maneuver easily and efficiently in the patient rooms where it will be wheeled?

• Can it maneuver efficiently across different floor surfaces?

• Can it negotiate over door sills or changes in floor height without a loss of stability?

• Do the vendor’s accessories satisfy the needs of your staff?

• Are the carts delivered preassembled, with the computing devices already incorporated and tested?

• Is the work surface sufficient and ergonomically well designed?

• What is the expected battery life between charges? How much time is required for recharging the battery?

• Can the carts (as well as the MCDs themselves) meet your infection control policy requirements? For example, can they withstand disinfection; are the MCD keyboards waterproof and cleanable; are they single surface keyboards with low-profile keys?

• What type of warranty and repair contract is provided; is onsite support and maintenance available; is an onsite inventory of spares provided as part of the maintenance contract; how quickly can replacement units be delivered?