To be successful, hospitals and long-term care facilities must be ready and equipped to use medical computers in a variety of settings within their locations. One popular solution that has continued to gain momentum is the pairing of all-in-one computers (AIO) with mobile workstations. Part of the reason behind this trend is that when done right, these pairings can provide ergonomic and cost-effective solutions for nurses while rounding, charting, and administering care. It goes without saying that just any combination of cart and PC won’t do. Careful consideration towards choosing the right equipment will ensure that everyone—including IT, nurses, and patients—benefits.
The Necessity of Medical Grade Computers
Typical commercial desktops are often not appropriate for healthcare settings. Decision makers should be sure to focus on medical grade models only.
“Medical grade computers have gone through rigorous testing—you can’t just buy a monitor off Amazon,” said Greg Daurio, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Cybernet. “Obviously, that increases the price tag compared to others, but the AIO and a nonpowered cart represent a turnkey solution.” The low non-powered cart cost can offset the additional cost of an AIO, and still result in a total system that's significantly less expensive.
Certification
In order to qualify as a medical PC, computers must be UL/IEC60601-1 certified safe for use near patients. The manufacturer should provide documentation proving that all devices meet this international standard for electromagnetic and radiation emissions.
"All medical computers must be certified by the International Electronic Commission as safe to be near patients,” said Daurio. “Protecting against surge, for example, and interference from any electromagnetic emissions. Such options do not exist on commercial-grade desktops. Medical computers are also sealed for cleaning, so they can be totally wiped down with hospital-grade disinfectant. Plus, all surfaces of these computers are antimicrobial.”
IP65 certification is also important because it denotes protection against liquid and dust ingress, keeping internal components free from damage during disinfection and cleaning.
Antimicrobial
Users should look for medical-grade computers with antimicrobial properties. The best options use an antimicrobial agent that is integrated into the resin during the manufacturing process and will protect it forever. Less desirable options have an antimicrobial coating applied after manufacturing. These coatings degrade over time...
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TouchPoint Medical is a leading global provider of innovative and intelligent solutions spanning both Point-of-Care Mobile, Stationary Workstation, and Medication Delivery and Management to thousands of hospitals and health care facilities around the world.
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