The latest advancement in point-of-care (POC) systems is a new line of ultra slim, lightweight yet full-featured terminals from Advantech. The new POC terminals are light enough to mount safely on nursing carts, increasing mobility and access to information for hospital care providers. These new POC-S155 and the POC-S175 are some of the first slim-panel computers to be designed for POC applications.
Point-of-care technology is becoming an essential component of responsible patient care. Bedside access to medical records results in fewer treatment errors, reducing the number of adverse drug events and preventable deaths in hospital. With barcode-enabled networked terminals, medical personnel can quickly and accurately identify patients, view chart information, and update medical records. From any location in the hospital, caregivers can retrieve test results and scans stored on a central database and display them on a local terminal.
Computing platforms for point-of-care applications are customised for hospital environments, and the latest terminals from Advantech have been developed with patient safety as a priority. Their rugged design features fanless operation to reduce noise levels, and to prevent the circulation of airborne germs. A waterproof, dust-tight enclosure seals out infectious particles and the surface is easily cleaned with rubbing alcohol. With its curved edges, the panel is shaped to prevent contact injuries.
The POC-S155 and -S175 models meet safety standards UL- and EN-60601-1 for medical electrical equipment, and are IP65/NEMA 4-compliant. Weighing less than 7 kg each, both are mobile enough to accompany medical personnel on their hospital rounds. The S175 model has a 17" TFT LCD screen with a 170° viewing angle and, with a contrast ratio of 500:1, serves well for CIS applications.
They are designed with the Celeron M processor and are DC powered. For connectivity, there are dual COM port interfaces and a mini-PCI slot that connects to an optional WLAN module for wireless access to a network. Another hi-tech option is the touchscreen display, convenient for high-traffic environments or when desktop space is limited. POC terminals can be customised with peripheral components and adapted for existing networks and system software through Advantech's BTOS/DTOS services.
Although changes in practice are challenging for any hospital, the current advanced technology and the technical support available make the transition easy, says Advantech.
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