Because nurses are the primary users of telehealth tools, carts, and other equipment, hospitals should ensure they receive the products and support they need to do their jobs safely and to the highest standards. In this article, we explore how telehealth affects nurses and what they look for in their telehealth equipment.
Nurses are the primary end user for telehealth equipment. Therefore, hospitals need to pay close attention to what nurses want and need in telehealth tools. Below are today’s nurse’s top priorities for this 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.
Hospitals should choose telehealth carts built with portability in mind. Altus offers an innovative line of powered and non-powered carts designed with speed, agility, and portability in mind.
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 percent of a typical nurse’s shift. Because nurses presently spend so much time inputting patient data, they need access to ergonomically designed workstations.
Altus builds each cart with the end user 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. For this reason, nurses want telehealth carts that can stand up to the hospital setting. Carts should be crafted with durable materials that result in a long life span.
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 made to provide patient care in a comfortable yet compact space. Hospital carts must meet the needs of the clinician while taking up as little space as possible.
Nurses want carts with a sleek design that can be maneuvered safely around other hospital equipment. Altus manufactures the lightest carts in the industry, making navigation smooth and virtually effortless. The Clio boasts an 18.5-inch-wide footprint that allows it to squeeze into the tightest places.
5. Flexibility
Multiple nurses and providers use mobile workstations every shift. Hospital carts should be customizable for the needs of each nurse with just a simple push of a button. Nurses shouldn’t have to 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.
Altus’s carts offer electric lifts, sit-to-stand capabilities, rotating keyboards, and more. Nurses can easily adjust each workstation for safe and comfortable use.