What Do Nurses Look for in Telehealth Tools, Carts, and Equipment
Telehealthcare rose in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It became the solution for healthcare to allow a safe flow of communication. Although medical offices and hospitals have begun returning to their normal operations, telehealth and virtual visits remain popular avenues for delivering patient care.
The primary users of telemedicine equipment (such as medical tools and computer carts) in hospitals are nurses. In order to ensure they’re able to provide the highest level of care and the best virtual visit possible, hospitals should ensure they implement the best products and support they need for clinicians to perform their jobs safely and to the highest standards.
Telehealth Equipment for Nurses
Telehealth equipment helps nurses provide care both remotely and when face-to-face with patients. Mobile telemedicine carts specifically act as workstations that house all the equipment nurses need to provide care and a patient connection.
While they are not the ones purchasing the equipment, nurses are the primary end-user of telehealth equipment. Therefore, hospitals and IT professionals need to pay close attention to what nurses want and need in telehealth tools. Below are the top 5 things we found nurses want in their telehealth tools, carts, and equipment.
1. Portability
In a typical hospital setting, nurses are responsible for anywhere from one to six patients. It’s no secret that nurses spend most of their 12-hour shifts running from room to room, caring for their patients. For this reason, they need telehealth equipment that moves easily from room to room, down the hall, and wherever they need it.
Nurses don’t have time to worry if their telehealth equipment will make it through the door or over their elevator entrance. They need this factored into product design before receiving the equipment.
Hospitals should choose telemedicine devices that are designed with speed, agility, and portability in mind to support their nurses.
2. Ergonomic Design
Research shows that nurses spend most of their shifts accessing, inputting, and updating patient data. One survey shows that data entry consumes a whopping 56% of a typical nurse’s shift.
The large amount of time nurses spend inputting patient data means they look for telemed equipment that is built ergonomically in order to lower the risk of musculoskeletal disorders for nurses.
Altus builds telehealth technology tools with nurses’ ergonomic needs in mind. Every workstation is designed for long hours of work. An ergonomic design reduces the risk of workplace injury, keeping nurses healthy and happy while reducing costs for the hospital.
3. Durability
Hospitals and medical clinics can be high-stress, unpredictable environments. In addition to stress, nurses are also on their feet and spend most of their shifts moving with their equipment. For this reason, nurses want telehealth carts that can stand up to the hospital setting. Telecare products should be crafted with durable materials that result in a long life span – a more durable cart means more patients helped.
To make sure our carts are up to the durability test, we made sure that stainless steel casters, sturdy hinges, and plastic surfaces that are easy to clean are part of every Altus telehealth cart. These components come together to create a cart that rises to every occasion.
4. Sleek Design
Hospital rooms are designed to provide patient care in a comfortable yet compact space. Hospital carts must meet the needs of clinicians while taking up as little space as possible.
Nurses want telemedicine carts with a sleek design that can be maneuvered safely around other hospital equipment. In order to meet these requests, Altus manufactures the lightest carts in the industry. With each tablet cart and computer cart, navigation is smooth and virtually effortless.
When it comes to a compact teleconsultation solution with a sleek design, Cameo boasts a compact footprint that allows it to squeeze into the tightest places, while still having the necessary workspace for any papers or additional equipment needed.
5. Flexibility
Nurses and providers use the same mobile workstations every shift. In order to meet each healthcare worker who has to use the carts, hospital carts should be easily customizable.
Nurses shouldn’t overexert themselves to pull workstations up to the appropriate height, nor should they need to put their entire weight on the counter to push it down.
A simple lever or push of a button to adjust the height to the clinician using it is all that’s needed. There’s also the option to implement an electric lift for easy adjustments and comfortability. Each mobile computer cart with an electric lift comes with sit-to-stand capabilities, rotating keyboards, and more.
Conclusion
At Altus, we’re reimagining telehealth equipment to revolutionize how nurses operate within a hospital system. Using what nurses need and want to shape our product design. Empower your nurses to provide excellent patient care with an Altus telehealth cart today.