The big advantage of any type of rolling cart used in medical facilities is the ability to safely and quickly move equipment between patient treatment rooms, units, departments or throughout a clinic or office. Today, that equipment usually includes onboard computers, keyboards, and monitors, which means dependability and stability in movement will always be a central concern.
However, in addition to ease of movement, there are other attributes that are essential for any medical rolling cart used in these types of facilities. One factor that is often overlooked in comparing different models is the built-in safety and security features of the cart.
It may not be until the medical rolling cart is in use that deficits in the design begin to surface. However, by looking specifically at these issues when comparing carts on the market, these types of issues can be avoided.
Drawer Configurations
Checking the options for drawer configuration options on the carts is always important. You should have a good idea of what types of equipment, supplies, and devices that will need to be stored on the cart and if they need to be secured or if they can be kept in unlocked storage compartments on the cart.
Typically, a combination of both locking and open storage is the ideal option for most medical facilities. This allows easy access to basic supplies while securing equipment and documents as needed.
Locking Options
While not every medical rolling cart is going to be used for medications, locking is still important in most facilities. Carts that offer coded locks to track access and to limit the ability of unauthorized staff and others to access the cart is ideal in most settings.
Some systems allow for the use of proximity cards, ensuring the drawers are unlocked when the authorized staff is near the cart, helping to streamline access to supplies without compromising on security.
