Category: Medical Cart Computers

Infotainment is a rapidly spreading concept across the digital landscape – combining information and attractive content with the goal of providing entertainment hand–in–hand with data that is of value to the viewer.

This idea is evident in the healthcare industry. Waiting rooms play informational content on a loop, hoping patients will absorb data that could help improve their care and their compliance with treatment plans. A new take on this avenue of patient education is patient-side computing, a more personalized way to gain exposure to beneficial knowledge.

Research and experimentation that examines patient-side computing setups in healthcare environments can track levels of positive engagement, and devise new ways to deliver data in a user-friendly format. The gradual shift in focus is away from the typical ceiling mount television and restricted cable network providing a comforting drone of syndicated entertainment and towards a more interactive patient experience with Medical Cart Computers that track patient care, capture data, and can also be used to provide information as well as entertainment to captive audiences.  

This information dissemination pattern has been successfully implemented in other verticals. Hotels and restaurants provide tablet computers in the room or on the table, allowing users to order and pay outstanding bills, and these tablets also often offer the option for more entertaining types of interacting by way of apps or games, either free or paid, allowing users to entertain themselves. In many cases, for example the tourism related businesses, information about local attractions can be fed alongside fun facts about the area, or quizzes can be used to pique interest.

When utilizing digital devices in a healthcare setting, the issue of security and privacy is a priority. Patient-side computing can be regulated by strict accessibility parameters – infotainment options segmented form patient data, and key card access required for sensitive data or tools. This allows for one device to have multiple functions, and reduces the number of computers required for each room.

The benefits of infotainment and patient computing options is proven to enhance patient stays in healthcare facilities, encouraging patient interaction and increasing satisfaction as well as ultimate outcomes. When patients can receive valuable data about their condition, communicate with hospital staff, enjoy various forms of entertainment, and even interact in a limited way with the main system (such as ordering food from the cafeteria), their experience is positively enhanced.

The psychological aspect of recovery is bolstered by allowing the patients to feel like they are in charge of their recovery, and can reduce readmission rates, leading to savings for the facility and higher grades for patient care. Infotainment is shaping up to be the next huge step forward in the realm of patient-side care.

Mobile tech use in the healthcare vertical has exploded over the past five years. According to a March, 2015 study by Kantar Media, 84% of US physicians polled use smartphones for professional purposes, and 56% use tablets.

Diagnostic tools, clinical reference apps, drug and coding references, and productivity and organizational tools were the top types of usage for smartphone carriers, while those who used tablets concentrated more on readable content and patient side care, with medical journal and electronic medical record apps as well as diagnostic tools and patient education tools.

Tablet use has been expanding among doctors, with the larger screens and ability to share screen views more readily with patients and other professionals leading to better versatility that outweighs the bulkier format. While institutions that provide mobile devices were more likely to hand out smartphones, the ones that opted for tablet deployment saw faster implementation of the devices in day-to-day use.

Patients also appreciate tablet use by their healthcare professionals; again, the ability to input, retrieve, share, and store information in real time is attractive to patients who seek to feel involved in their own care, and the tablet provides an easy way for doctors to loop patients in on the data files being created for them. Apps can be recommended and shared with patients who require monitoring, whether they are image based meal logs for diabetics, logs for exercise, heart rate and blood pressure evaluators, or sleep tracking.  

The apps available for healthcare are in the tens of thousands. According to research by MedData Group in January, 2015, the leading apps allow access to specialty specific and clinical content; medical education articles; and pharma information, specifically contraindications and drug interaction information. Having quick access and the ability to double check data while patient-side increases trust and leads to better outcomes.

Only 20% of doctors as of that study reported not reading medical content on mobile devices, and polling from just one year prior showed nearly 40% of doctors were committed to making their practice mobile friendly for both staff and patients, citing the benefits of understanding the needs of a mobile generation, and the ability to enhance patient compliance via app use and data capture long term.

Overall, tablets can be expected to continue to advance on smartphones in the medical field, especially in the arena of patient interaction. From access to EHRs to app development for patient care, there are more benefits on the horizon for medical adaptation and patient implementation.

How Medical Cart Computers Inspire Patient Trust

As an ever-expanding industry, healthcare is becoming more competitive and depending more on digital assistance to enhance record accuracy and better serve patients. Medical Cart Computers are the new standard of care, allowing doctors to deliver premium patient-side experiences and improve patient / doctor relationships by inspiring trust.

Patients need to know that their information is accurate and safe. When one of the top causes of improper patient care is incorrect data, being able to show patients that their information is being captured instantly and accurately can instill the first layer of trust required.

In order to perform tasks like instant data capture and shared doctor / patient discussion, patient-side technology is required. Medical Cart Computers provide a tool that allows doctors to better relate with patients; instead of the clipboard or a stationary computer system, patient data can be clearly entered and verified with the patient no matter what location in the building or campus, providing a level of assurance that data entry at a central terminal can’t match.

As electronic health records (EHRs) continue to gain traction, access to vital data and the ability to review charts, files, and images at any location is crucial. Enhanced patient care can be assured by use of Medical Cart Computers synced with a centralized system, so the patient’s file can follow them throughout a medical facility.

Patients who are able to see data being entered and updated, and who are allowed the visual interaction that a Medical Cart Computer provides are more likely to trust the process and feel more secure that their data is correct. Explaining issues and procedures is also easier with a Medical Cart Computer available to provide a visual aid when needed.

Patient trust grows as the transparent workflow and improved healthcare quality make a distinct impact on their experiences in clinics, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and specialist encounters. Using Medical Cart Computers is one way to enhance and strengthen doctor patient bonds and improve outcomes.

The advantages of modern Medical Cart Computers include enhanced portability, compatibility with other healthcare tech, features like hot swappable batteries to ensure continual availability, and patient confidentiality via security and privacy software that restricts access based on authentication of each user.

Using Medical Cart Computers can solve multiple problems, improve productivity, and lead to better patient care and relations. Utilizing new technology builds trusting relationships and instills confidence for future interactions.