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

The Leading Mobile Cart in Healthcare

Mobile Carts, Computer on Wheels, COWs, Workstation on Wheels, WOWs and Nurse Carts are common names for these necessary tools for EMR or EHR  We have a new one coined by a client…BMW..Bedside Medication Workstation.  I love this new one! Our new AccessPoint Cart leads the pack in Point of Care Mobile Carts. I will quickly outline the features that make them the BEST!

Patient Safety:

• Made with Microban – Antimicrobial to inhibit bacteria growth
• Monitor Articulation – Monitor easily moves downward to hide screen from prying eyes
• UL-60601 Certified – Electronics are safe within 6 feet of any patient

Caregiver Safety:

• Easy to Push – Lightweight and roll easily
• Superior Ergonomics – Articulating Keyboard Tray, Articulating Monitor, Foot Rest

 

Bonus Features:

• 2 Hour Charge – Also has Option for Fanless Charging (for ORs)
• 13 Hour Daily Shift Battery Life
• Small footprint  – easy to get into tight spaces
• Rear Handles
• Electronic Lift Adjustment – Push Button
• Left and Right adjustable Mouse Pads
• LED Lights – Worksurface and Keyboard – With Dimmers
• Backlit Keyboard
• Easy Access Battery Storage Area – Pop off the Footrest and there it is!
• MetroMonitor Software – Allows IT Dept. to remotely see WOW or COW and its battery health instantly.
• Easy Access Tech Tray – Unlock the Worksurface and remove.  There is the Thin Client, Laptop or Computer.

 With Daily Availability of 13 hours, why consider anything else? 

 

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 Mobile Carts. With over 25 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 AccessPoint Mobile Carts. See our new website at: asrhealthcare.com. Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

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

Mobile Cart Selection – What should we consider for Computer on Wheels (COWs)?

  knows Computer on Wheels (COWs) or Workstation on Wheels (WOWs). We have researched the criteria for selecting a Mobile Cart for Hospitals and Health Systems. After polling our local clients and posting questions to HIMSS members through the message board, these are the results of our findings. The questions were:

1. What is the criteria in selecting Computer on Wheels, Mobile Carts or RX Carts?
2. Who drives the decision?
3. Who has input on the decision?

The nursing staff should express their needs/feedback about Mobile Carts through representatives or Nurse Managers. The IT Departments needs to provide input as to supporting a device on the network and Biomed department gets involved (in some cases) in supporting the batteries. Now becoming more mainstream, some institutions are on their 2nd or 3rd generation of carts. History of using these carts creates a wish list for future purchases, to make the staff’s jobs easier.

Allow me to add the following about FLO Computer on Wheels:

• Easy to Push  – Little effort to push and maintain rolling
• Small Footprint – Right sized for doorways and tight areas
• Appropriate Screen Size – Today’s SW recommends larger screens..22″ or even 24″
• Easy Plug In / Battery Swap – Batteries must be charged regularly
• Easy to See Battery Gauge  – Should be right above Work Surface
• Built in Foot Rest
• Compatible with Software and Wireless NW  – Good reception
• Back Lit Keyboard – For in-room visits at night
• Lighted Worksurface – For tools and documents
• Ergonomic Keyboard Tray – Reduces fatigue
• ISO and UL 60601 Certified – No Electro Static Discharge within 6′ of COW (FLO is only one Certified)
• Microban Covered Keyboard or Skin – Prevents spread of bacteria
• Medication Drawer options – Customized to your needs
• Easily Upgraded – Field upgraded
• Many Options Available – Lights, holders, baskets, rails, etc.
• Great reseller support – ASR is your partner

Metro FLO Mobile Carts meet all of the criteria….plus having the Industry Leading Power Systems with batteries that can last a full shift and can be used for 10 years.

ASR is a leading Metro Flo Healthcare Mobile Cart Dealer and Service Center. See our FLO 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 COWs. With over 20 years combined experience with them, ASR has developed many ways to extend Cost of Ownership and Return on Investment.  Allow us to show you how.

See our new website at: asrhealthcare.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrhealthcare.com

Point-of-Care for Healthcare … Entering 2013

Point-of-Care is where the rubber meets the road in Healthcare. As we move closer and closer to a EMR world, the data capture and data sharing devices are the key. There are different schools of thought on how to outfit a Health System with the right devices. Some choose either COWs, Tablets or Wall Arms. I think that all 3 have their place in today’s Health System.

We know this can be done by 3 device families:

Mobile Carts – Computer on Wheels (COWs) or Workstation on Wheels (WOWs)

Tablets or other Handheld Wireless devices

Wall Arms or Wall Cabinets housing Computers

ASR is your best source for Flo Healthcare and Lionville Mobile Carts. Also, contact us for our MetroMount Wall Arms…both medium duty and heavy duty (holds 40#)

Don’t forget we supply batteries for the Flo 1750 and Flo 1760 at great prices…and with a 16 month warranty too!

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

See us on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/user/MetroHealthcare

Send us a request for a Catalog!

See the Entire Line at: https://www.metro.com/healthcare/point-of-care-computing/

ASR is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers. We are an IT company that knows IT and knows COWs. We have over 15 years experience with them.

www.asrcomputer.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrcomputer.com

Flo Healthcare COW or WOW Batteries & Chargers. We Service MPS 4002, MPE 7800 or MPE 7801..Anton Bauer or PowerVar

ASR has Flo Approved Batteries available as a replacement for your Mobile Carts. We also have chargers that have been refurbished as a direct replacement for your dead one.

We carry battery packs for MPS 4002, MPE 7800 and MPE 7801 chargers found on Flo 1750, 1760 and 1800 COWs. We also supply batteries for the 2700.

Check our pricing and availability on these. 16 month warranty! Batteries from ASR will not VOID your Flo warranty or annual maintenance agreement.

See more at: http://www.asrcomputer.com/healthcare-battery-replacement.pdf

Call us for a customized plan to keep your COWs or WOWs rolling! We will repopulate with new NiMH batteries, test them, charge them and ship back to you…ready to install. Our turnaround time will keep your staff and the nurses happy!

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrcomputer.com.

Scroll through the ASR Blog for more information about Maintaining COWs, Cleaning COWs and Supporting COWs in your Health System.

COWs and WOWs – Cleaning and Disinfecting – Part of Periodic Maintenance and Infection Control

COW maintenance should include routine cleaning and disinfection processes. In all the the Health Systems I visit, I see COWs in many degrees of condition. Some are visibly clean while others are covered with tape, stickers and just plain dirty. I believe that a COW should look clean and actually be clean to prevent the spread of disease. Also, a COW that is clean also 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 COWs.

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

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.

ASR is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers because we are an IT company that knows IT and knows Healthcare. We are your best source for all Healthcare carts and their support. Contact ASR today for a customized service plan

www.asrcomputer.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrcomputer.com.

COWs and WOWs – Maintaining Mobile Carts in your Health System

Today’s Topics: Batteries and Regular Maintenance

Being from the IT world since 1985, I like to call them COWs (Computer on Wheels). That being said, let me say this:
COWs NEED REGULAR MAINTENANCE.
Of course, you know when your batteries are on their last leg or when the cart is not hitting the network, this should

not

be your only time to touch a COW.

Batteries: a Quick Lesson
SLA – Sealed Lead Acid – lasts about a year
NiMH – Nickle Metal Hydride – lasts about 2 years
LIon – Lithium Ion – lasts about 4+ years

Batteries plague every Health System that has COWs. THe best option here is to buy LIon from the beginning or upgrade to them now. THis takes the charging and short battery life out of your COW support equation. (excellent ROI)

COWs get dirty, full of stickers, tape and all kinds of dried fluid. They also carry bacteria. You have to ask yourself, “How does this look to patients, their family and friends and hospital staff?” I would think this is not a good representation of your facility.

Regular Maintenance / Preventative Maintenance
COWs need maintenance on a regular basis. I would recommend once per year at worst case. This would entail, thorough cleaning, sterilizing, vaccuuming, cleaning off stickers and tape, testing all equipment, tightening everything and replacing broken components. A better approach is to perform this twice a year.

For the sake of the investment made in the cart, Preventative Maintenance can go a long way for your Return on Investment (ROI) and Infection Control.

ASR is bridging the gap for Healthcare providers because we are an IT company that knows IT and knows Healthcare. We are your best source for all Healthcare carts and their support.

www.asrcomputer.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrcomputer.com.

Computer on Wheels – COWs or WOWs – ASR Has Batteries at Great Prices – Save Big $$$

ASR is an IT company based near Atlanta, Georgia. We have batteries for your COWs or WOWs at Great Prices $$$$ and a 16 month warranty. We work closely with many Healthcare providers and their IT departments in maintaining the carts both in Atlanta and nationally.

We have developed a quick and easy method for your COW or WOW battery replacements. ASR offers a pick up and delivery service for those in the Atlanta area.

Outside of Atlanta, simply send in the charging unit and we will repopulate it and send it back in a custom double walled box with custom cut out foam. This box can be used again and again ensuring safe delivery. Contact us today for a quote on your Flo Healthcare, General Electric, Rubbermaid and Stryker mobile carts.

www.asrcomputer.com.

Contact 770.623.0071 or sales@asrcomputer.com.