Mobile Carts in Healthcare – A Brief History and Beyond

The beginnings of Computer on Wheels (COWs) or Workstation on Wheels (WOWs)

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)and Electronic Health Records (HER) were the driving force for the development of Mobile Carts. With EMR and EHR in Healthcare, computer devices were needed to help Caregivers capture and share the Patient Data, Patient Images and access Patient Charts through the Wireless Network. This was to be done securely and efficiently in an effort to implement a big step in Patient Privacy.  Mobile Carts with a UPS and Battery were the early types.  They were effective but the Run Time was adequate at best and they were kind of clunky.  Enhancements came only as Up and Down Adjustments and Adjustable Keyboard Trays.  The Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Batteries overall life was around 12 months and Run Time would be reduced greatly toward the end of their life.  What used to run for 6 to 8 hours now only lasts 3 or 4 hours.  This became a burden on Biomed and the IT Departments supporting them.  The question came up many times:  Who is going to support the Mobile Carts…Biomed because of the Battery Power or IT because it housed a Computer, Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse.  Turns out, IT drew the short straw on that one.

What we have now

As the Mobile Carts were used more and more, they became widely accepted. Ideas for efficiencies by using Mobile Carts focused on their intended use in each area of Healthcare. Every area of Healthcare is different and require different tools and accessories. Soon, they were being used for Specific Tasks – Charting, Admissions, Medication Delivery, Radiology, Phlebotomy and Respiratory.  Through the use of specific Accessories, they became effective tools for the Caregivers saving them time and footsteps.  Caregiver Safety came in the form of Ergonomics like: Adjustable keyboard trays – up/down and side to side movements and Adjustable monitor mounts – tilt and swivel to face patient or hide screen from prying eyes.

Technology kept driving on in the Power Systems and Battery Technology too. The old SLA Batteries were replaced by NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) and Lithium Batteries.  Lithium Batteries came in the form of Fixed Batteries solutions, like before, and then Hot Swap Batteries emerged as an alternative.  All of these delivered much longer run times, shorter charging and overall longer life…up to 7 years!

Mobile Cart development produced lighter carts using aircraft quality aluminum, plastics, polymers and cast materials. The new materials contained Infection Prevention features, as well – Microban was infused into the paints, plastics and polymers of each Mobile Cart.  They now had easy to clean surfaces for wipe downs to kill bacteria and pathogens.

The Mobile Carts today are Easier to Use and Maintain than before. Batteries and Power Systems last longer and require less maintenance.  The Mobile Carts are well built and will last up to 10 years, depending on the Manufacturer.  We currently support and maintain Carts built 13 years ago for a few clients.  They just keep rolling and rolling with regular Preventative Maintenance.

Where is Point of Care with Mobile Carts going?

We are currently seeing a couple trends in Point of Care with Mobile Carts or the ability to electronically enter and capture patient data.

We are seeing the need for more Carts in Hospitals, Health Systems, Clinics, Surgery Centers. Physician Practices, Rehabilitation Facilities, Long Term Care, Senior Care, Dental Care and other Health Related Facilities.

We are receiving more and more requests for simple Non-Powered Carts. Caregivers and physicians are using these are their “Home Spot” that becomes their vehicle to carry their Laptop or Tablet, Charts or other things to each patient.  (this simple approach reduces Cross Contamination in Infection Prevention…but that is another conversation)

Carts have been lightened and will become lighter. Monitors and computers have become lighter.  Battery Run Times have increased greatly and will last 5+ years, depending on the Lithium Battery Technology.

Cart Management has moved forward with a couple forms of Cart Inventory Software that have a dynamic Dashboard to show Cart location, Battery Health and User Log In History. Monitoring of a Mobile Cart fleet is now at your fingertips

What will we see in the future for Point of Care Mobile Carts?

Charging Mobile Carts through Proximity Chargers in the Hallways or Alcoves?

How about Carts that won’t need charging at all?

Lighter Carts are always high on the Want List. How about Super lightweight carts?

I have seen small RX Carts (like a R2-D2) that deliver Meds Carts to Caregivers from the Pharmacy on request. How about Mobile Carts that follow the Caregiver under its own power – No more pushing.  This takes Medication Delivery to a whole new level.

How about Mobile Carts that notify IT or the User that an Update, Service or Repair is needed? IBM has had that Service for decades in their support model.  An IBM Technician would show up to perform a Service or Repair because the IBM Mainframe directly opened a ticket and contacted him.

ASR are here to help every step of the way. We can help you off-load Cart duties, help supply New or Refurbished Mobile Carts, Wall Arms, JCAHO Prep, Repairs, Refresh, Upgrades, Accessories, Batteries and Tech Support.  We are a brick and mortar facility with a Tech Center, Parts Department and Warehouse just for Point of Care.

Every Mobile Cart Configuration is possible – we will help Retro-fit your existing Mobile Carts or provide additional Carts. Think of ASR for:

• Documentation Carts
• Charting Carts
• RX Carts for Medication delivery
• Respiratory Carts
• Phlebotomy Carts
• Admissions Carts
• Radiology Carts
• Tablet Carts
• Laptop Carts
• TeleHealth Carts
• Any Cart for any requirement

ASR is a leading Point-of-Care Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center.

Send us a request for a Catalog

is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers. We know Point of Care and Infection Prevention. With over 40 years combined experience these necessary tools, ASR has developed many ways to reduce Cost of Ownership and increase your Return on Investment.  Contact us today for a quote on Mobile Cart services.

Visit our website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

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Cart Maintenance Basics including Cleaning & Disinfection – COWs, WOWs, Med Carts, RX Carts

 

Cart maintenance should include routine cleaning and disinfection processes. In all Health Systems, I see Carts in many degrees of condition. Some are visibly clean while others are covered with tape, stickers and just plain dirty. I believe that a Cart should look clean and actually be clean to prevent the spread of disease. Also, a Cart that is clean looks better to patients, their family, their friends and hospital staff. ASR offers detailed cleaning and disinfecting services for COWs and WOWs. This service should be performed a minimum of twice each year. One client wants this done quarterly on his fleet of Medical Carts.

Here is a bit I have put together to share about Cleaning and Disinfection of Carts:

Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization: Point of Care Equipment

All Point of Care equipment including Computer on Wheels (COWs) or Workstation on Wheels (WOWs) and Wall Arms are essential to the care of patients. Because they typically are designed for high use, they also can transmit pathogens if any of the steps involved in reprocessing (Cleaning, Disinfection, or Sterilization) are inadequate or experience failures. Because the majority of pathogens are present in organic matter, e.g. visible soil, the first step in reprocessing, Cleaning is the most important. Any failure to remove soil at this point creates the potential for transmission of infection as the efficacy of subsequent disinfection or sterilization will be compromised.

Every hospital or healthcare facility should have an Infection Control Policy in place and include Point of Care equipment. An Infection Control Policy should be built around:

Cleaning Disinfection Sterilization

Cleaning: This process usually involves detergent or enzymatic pre-soak that removes foreign material (e.g. dirt or microorganisms) from an object. Cleaning is the most essential step in reprocessing instruments and equipment. Cleaning involves the removal of all foreign material (dirt and organic matter) from the object being reprocessed. Two key components of cleaning are friction to remove foreign matter and fluids to remove or rinse away contamination. This is especially true for manual cleaning of COWs or WOWs, which removes most organisms from a surface. Cleaning is normally accomplished by the use of water or detergents and mechanical actions. Detergent is essential to dissolve proteins and oil that can reside on equipment after use. Detergents lower surface tension and lift dirt or oil away from the device. Studies have shown that thorough cleaning alone can provide a 10,000 fold reduction in contaminants.

Disinfection: Any process, chemical or physical, that destroys pathogens that deems an item is safe to handle for its use. A disinfectant is a chemical agent that destroys most pathogens but may not kill bacterial spores. Chemical disinfection should only be used if heat treatment is impractical or if it may cause damage to the equipment. There is a broad spectrum of chemical disinfectants that have different antimicrobial activities. Most of them do not necessarily kill all microorganisms or spores that are present on an inanimate object but instead reduce the number of microorganisms to a level that is not harmful to health.

Sterilization: Uses an agent that destroys all viable forms of microbial life on any surface. Sterilization methods remove or destroy all forms of microbial life including bacterial spores by either physical or chemical processes. Sterilization is accomplished principally by steam under pressure, by dry heat, and by chemical sterilants. (Because of their size and the electronic components in COWs or WOWs, Sterilization is not a viable option).

 

Risks of Infection from Equipment

The risks of infection from equipment may be classified into three categories. COWs and WOWs fall into the Low Risk category. These are noncritical items are items that come into contact with normal and intact skin or with the inanimate environment (e.g. walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, sinks, etc.). Cleaning with a detergent and drying is more than adequate. A simple wipe down with an alcohol based disinfectant wipe or once over with a Hospital Grade Disinfectant Spray by the staff before each shift is even better. These processes are essential for every COW and WOW and should be included in your Infection Control Policy.

We understand that budgets are tight.  We will help you stretch your Point of Care device dollar through our VALUE. Partnering with ASR will save you time, money and allow you to better focus on Patient Care.

ASR is a leading Point-of-Care Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center.

 

Send us a request for a Catalog

is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers. We know Point of Care and Infection Prevention. With over 40 years combined experience these necessary tools, ASR has developed many ways to reduce Cost of Ownership and increase your Return on Investment.  Contact us today for a quote on Mobile Cart services.

Visit our website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

Mobile Cart Customization – Building the Most Efficient Cart

Our last post discussed the One Size Does Not Fit All approach for Point of Care Mobile Carts.  The feedback to that post has really hit a nerve with the actual caregivers as their needs for this tool are as varied as their tasks.  Today, we will cover ways to Customize your Mobile Cart.  This is what ASR does daily for our clients and sometimes, we actually design products for a specific need. I will be using bulleted topics to cover this.

• Batteries – Sealed Lead Acid (SLA), Lithium Iron (LiFe) or Lithium Nano (LiNano)
• Technology – Tiny PC, Laptop or Thin Client
• Monitor – 22″ LED, 24″ LED, 22″ Touchscreen LED or Dual Monitors
• Barcode Scanner – Wireless or Tethered
• Document Scanner –  to Scan Insurance Cards and Docs
• Printer – for Printing Receipts, Instructions, Arm Bands or Other Information
• Camera – for capturing Patient Images or Tele-Consulting
• Shelf – for a Printer or Scanner
• Basket – for High Use Consumables, either Front Mounted or Rear Mounted
• Cabinet – Locking or Non-Locking, for Consumables, Scopes or Other Items
• RX Cabinet – Locking, for Meds and Narcotics
• Accessories – Med Cup Holder, Scanner Brackets, Chart Rack, Trash Bin, Sharps Container, Sani-Wipe Holder or Glove Box Holder

As a premier Point of Care Dealer and Service Center for Mobile Carts, ASR knows “All Mobile Carts  can be Customized to fit the Caregiver’s needs for Efficiency“.  This will improve the Patient Experience and promote Accuracy.  ASR provides valuable insight into configuring your ideal RX Cart, Laptop Cart or Med Cart.  Learning about the process of your Caregivers  in each area allows us share ways to make them more effective through using the right tools ….the right Mobile Cart with the right accessories for their area.

ASR works closely with all clinics and Health Systems to create the ideal

Medical Cart for all areas of your Patient Care.

  

 

ASR is a national Healthcare Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center.  We service the entire USA and Puerto Rico.

                                           

 Contact us today for a FREE Mobile Cart Customization Consultation.

 is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers. We are an IT company that knows Healthcare IT and knows Mobile Carts. With over 40 years combined experience with them, ASR has developed many ways to reduce Cost of Ownership and increase your Return on Investment.  Contact us today for a quote on Mobile Carts, Laptop Carts, Med Carts and RX Carts.  Our Carts feature the best in Power, Ergonomics and Infection Control.

See our website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact  770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

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Mobile Cart Selection – One Size Does Not Fit All

As a premier Point of Care Dealer and Service Center for Mobile Carts, ASR knows “One Cart Configuration Is Not Effective in all areas of Healthcare”.  Designed to enhance the Patient Experience and increase Healthcare Efficiency, Computer on Wheels (COWs) should be accessorized for each specific area of the Hospital or Clinic.  A Medical Cart in the ER will be very different from the one found in the ICU.  ASR provides valuable insight into configuring your ideal RX Cart, Laptop Cart or Med Cart.  Learning about the process of your Caregivers  in each area allows us share ways to make them more effective through using the right tools ….the right Mobile Cart with the right accessories for their area. At this point, I have to share this important statement:

Acquiring Mobile Carts for your Facility should not be an on-line or catalog purchase without consultation.  Here’s why:

ASR works closely with IT, Nursing, Biomed and Infection Control to create an ideal Medical Cart for all areas including:

• Emergency Room
• Admissions
• Intensive Care Unit
• Operating Room
• Radiology
• Oncology

Basic Considerations:

Power System – Low demand?  Long run time?  Fixed Power?  Hot Swap? 

Work Surface Area – Small? Medium? Large? Extra Large?

Ergonomics – Easy to Push? Small Footprint?  Easy to Use?

Screen Size – 22″ LED? 24″ LED? 22″ or 24″ Touchscreen?  

Technology – Tiny PC?  Small Form Factor? Thin Client? All in One?

Accessories:

– Baskets

– Shelf – Drawers 

–  RX Bins

– Sani-Wipe Holder

– Glove Box Holder

– Barcode Scanner Bracket

– Med Cup Holder

– Waste Basket

– Sharps Container

ASR is a national Healthcare Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center.  We service the entire USA and Puerto Rico.

                                           

 Contact us today for a FREE Consultation.

 is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers. We are an IT company that knows Healthcare IT and knows Mobile Carts. With over 40 years combined experience with them, ASR has developed many ways to reduce Cost of Ownership and increase your Return on Investment.  Contact us today for a quote on Mobile Carts, Laptop Carts, Med Carts and RX Carts.  Our Carts feature the best in Power, Ergonomics and Infection Control.

See our website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact  770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

Follow us on:           

Cart Maintenance Basics – COWs, WOWs, Med Carts, RX Carts

Cart maintenance should include routine cleaning and disinfection processes. In all Health Systems, I see Carts in many degrees of condition. Some are visibly clean while others are covered with tape, stickers and just plain dirty. I believe that a Cart should look clean and actually be clean to prevent the spread of disease. Also, a Cart that is clean looks better to patients, their family, their friends and hospital staff. ASR offers detailed cleaning and disinfecting services for COWs and WOWs. This service should be performed a minimum of twice each year. One client wants this done quarterly on his fleet of Medical Carts.

Here is a bit I have put together to share about Cleaning and Disinfection of Carts:

Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization: Point of Care Equipment

All Point of Care equipment including Computer on Wheels (COWs) or Workstation on Wheels (WOWs) and Wall Arms are essential to the care of patients. Because they typically are designed for high use, they also can transmit pathogens if any of the steps involved in reprocessing (Cleaning, Disinfection, or Sterilization) are inadequate or experience failures. Because the majority of pathogens are present in organic matter, e.g. visible soil, the first step in reprocessing, Cleaning is the most important. Any failure to remove soil at this point creates the potential for transmission of infection as the efficacy of subsequent disinfection or sterilization will be compromised.

Every hospital or healthcare facility should have an Infection Control Policy in place and include Point of Care equipment. An Infection Control Policy should be built around:

Cleaning Disinfection Sterilization

Cleaning: This process usually involves detergent or enzymatic presoak that removes foreign material (e.g. dirt or microorganisms) from an object. Cleaning is the most essential step in reprocessing instruments and equipment. Cleaning involves the removal of all foreign material (dirt and organic matter) from the object being reprocessed. Two key components of cleaning are friction to remove foreign matter and fluids to remove or rinse away contamination. This is especially true for manual cleaning of COWs or WOWs, which removes most organisms from a surface. Cleaning is normally accomplished by the use of water or detergents and mechanical actions. Detergent is essential to dissolve proteins and oil that can reside on equipment after use. Detergents lower surface tension and lift dirt or oil away from the device. Studies have shown that thorough cleaning alone can provide a 10,000 fold reduction in contaminants.

Disinfection: Any process, chemical or physical, that destroys pathogens that deems an item is safe to handle for its use. A disinfectant is a chemical agent that destroys most pathogens but may not kill bacterial spores. Chemical disinfection should only be used if heat treatment is impractical or if it may cause damage to the equipment. There is a broad spectrum of chemical disinfectants that have different antimicrobial activities. Most of them do not necessarily kill all microorganisms or spores that are present on an inanimate object but instead reduce the number of microorganisms to a level that is not harmful to health.

Sterilization: Uses an agent that destroys all viable forms of microbial life on any surface. Sterilization methods remove or destroy all forms of microbial life including bacterial spores by either physical or chemical processes. Sterilization is accomplished principally by steam under pressure, by dry heat, and by chemical sterilants. (Because of their size and the electronic components in COWs or WOWs, Sterilization is not a viable option).

Risks of Infection from Equipment

The risks of infection from equipment may be classified into three categories. COWs and WOWs fall into the Low Risk category. These are noncritical items are items that come into contact with normal and intact skin or with the inanimate environment (e.g. walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, sinks, etc.). Cleaning with a detergent and drying is more than adequate. A simple wipe down with an alcohol based disinfectant wipe or once over with a Hospital Grade Disinfectant Spray by the staff before each shift is even better. These processes are essential for every COW and WOW and should be included in your Infection Control Policy.

We understand that budgets are tight.  We will help you stretch your Point of Care device dollar through our VALUE as a VALUE ADDED RESELLER. Partnering with ASR will save you time, money and allow you to better focus on Patient Care.

ASR is a leading Metro Healthcare Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center.

 

Send us a request for a Catalog

 is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers. We are an IT company that knows IT and knows Point of Care. With over 25 years combined experience these necessary tools, ASR has developed many ways to reduce Cost of Ownership and increase your Return on Investment.  Contact us today for a quote on Mobile Cart services.

See our new website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

TeleHealth and Telemedicine Solutions from ASR

ASR markets TeleHealth Cart solutions with the best technology available.  Starting with an AccessPoint base cart, our technicians install a monitor or dual monitors, a VESA mounted Camera bracket, shelf for a codec and drawers for other instruments.

Whether we install a CISCO, Polycom or other video conferencing package, the end result is a valuable tool for any Health System.

ASR is a leading Metro Healthcare Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center. See our videos on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/user/MetroHealthcare

Metro AccessPoint – Unmatched User Experience http://youtu.be/nU_0MOuDVt0

Metro AccessPoint – Advanced Medication Management http://youtu.be/8lk9GbUP0EA

Metro AccessPoint – Unrivaled Configurability & Integration http://youtu.be/0gN36on0huY

Metro SecureRx + MedDispense http://youtu.be/f0TqeFCkweY

Send us a request for a Catalog

 is helping Healthcare providers transform their processes. We are a Point of Care company that knows IT and knows Patient Care. Our solutions are unrivaled within Point of Care for Patient Safety, Patient Privacy and Health System efficiencies.

With over 25 years combined experience, ASR has developed many ways to reduce Cost of Ownership and increase your Return on Investment.  Allow us to get creative and show you how.  Contact ASR today for a personal consultation and evaluation of your Point of Care process.

See our website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

ASR at HomeTown Health Fall Conference – Show Medical Carts and Medication Cart

ASR just attended the HomeTown Health Fall Conference for their members in Callaway Gardens, Georgia.  The HomeTown Health members consist of small rural Health Systems and Hospitals in Georgia, Alabama and Panhandle Florida.

From their website, their mission:

HomeTown Health, LLC is a network of rural hospitals, healthcare providers, and best practice business partners who collectively pursue ways to help its membership survive in the environment of constant change in reimbursement, operations and technology.

HomeTown Health, LLC is committed to providing legislative representation, best practice solutions and continuing education and training through research and the continuous improvement of processes for healthcare providers.

The HomeTown Health members and Business Partners are lucky to have this organization to identify needs, share knowledge and assist with the business of running a hospital.  The HomeTown Health group were outstanding and pulled out the stops for their members and partners.  We really enjoyed meeting and interfacing with them.

ASR is proud to support HomeTown Health and help make a difference in patient care for rural communities.

They loved the Metro 1770RX Medication Cart and the AccessPoint Medical Cart we had on display.

ASR presented our full line of Mobile Carts, including the new…AccessPoint. We attended many break out sessions to learn more about Mobile Computing, legislative updates for healthcare and insurance changes with ACA.

ASR is a leading Metro Healthcare Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center. See our videos on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/user/MetroHealthcare

Metro AccessPoint – Unmatched User Experience http://youtu.be/nU_0MOuDVt0

Metro AccessPoint – Advanced Medication Management http://youtu.be/8lk9GbUP0EA

Metro AccessPoint – Unrivaled Configurability & Integration http://youtu.be/0gN36on0huY

Metro SecureRx + MedDispense http://youtu.be/f0TqeFCkweY

Send us a request for a Catalog

 is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers. We are an IT company that knows IT and knows Point of Care. With over 25 years combined experience, ASR has developed many ways to reduce Cost of Ownership and increase your Return on Investment.  Allow us to get creative and show you how.

See our website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com