Category: Medical PC

streamline hospitals with medical PCs

Medical PCs Streamline Hospitals

Michelle

In today’s fast-paced world, technology plays a crucial role in transforming various industries, and healthcare is no exception. One such groundbreaking innovation that has revolutionized medical practices is the Medical PC. In this blog, we delve into the capabilities, benefits, and potential applications of these advanced computing systems in the healthcare landscape.

What is a Medical PC?

A Medical PC, also known as a medical-grade computer or healthcare PC, is a specialized computing device designed specifically for the unique demands of healthcare environments. These PCs are equipped with features and functionalities that cater to the stringent requirements of healthcare providers, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and enhanced patient care. They are built to withstand the challenges of clinical settings, such as exposure to liquids, frequent disinfection, and compatibility with medical peripherals and devices.

Key Features and Benefits:

Medical PCs offer a wide range of features and benefits that contribute to improved healthcare outcomes. Firstly, they are designed with antimicrobial materials, preventing the growth and spread of harmful bacteria and germs. Their fanless design reduces the risk of airborne contaminants, making them ideal for sterile environments. Medical PCs are also equipped with high-resolution displays, enabling healthcare professionals to view medical images, patient records, and vital signs with utmost clarity.

Furthermore, these specialized computers are integrated with advanced connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and RFID, facilitating seamless communication and data exchange. The ability to connect to medical devices such as ultrasound machines, EKGs, and digital imaging systems enhances workflow efficiency and eliminates manual data entry errors.

Moreover, medical-grade computers are built to ensure patient data security and privacy, complying with stringent regulations like HIPAA. They offer features like biometric authentication, data encryption, and secure network connections, safeguarding sensitive medical information from unauthorized access.

Applications in Healthcare:

The versatility of medical PCs makes them invaluable in a wide range of healthcare settings. In hospitals, these devices streamline clinical workflows, allowing healthcare professionals to access patient data, order tests, and input treatment plans in real-time. Medical PCs are also utilized in operating rooms, where their sterile design and compatibility with surgical equipment enable surgeons to view critical patient data during procedures.

In addition, medical-grade computers find applications in telehealth and telemedicine, facilitating remote patient monitoring, virtual consultations, and real-time video conferencing. They can also be integrated into mobile medical carts, enabling healthcare providers to access patient information and record updates at the point of care, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors.

Medical PCs have undoubtedly transformed the healthcare landscape, enhancing patient care, improving efficiency, and ensuring data security. With their specialized features, durability, and compatibility with medical devices, these advanced computing systems are poised to play a vital role in the future of healthcare, delivering better outcomes and revolutionizing medical practices.

Medical PC for Efficiency

Medical PCs: Powering Healthcare Innovation and Efficiency

Admin

In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, technological advancements are revolutionizing patient care, improving outcomes, and enhancing operational efficiency. At the heart of this transformation are medical PCs, purpose-built computing devices designed to meet the unique demands and rigorous standards of the healthcare industry. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the essential role of medical PCs in powering healthcare innovation and efficiency, enabling healthcare providers to deliver superior patient care while streamlining their workflows.

Medical PCs Enhance Patient Care:

  1. Reliable and Secure Data Management: Medical PCs provide a secure and centralized platform for storing, accessing, and managing electronic health records (EHRs). This enables healthcare professionals to retrieve patient information swiftly, make informed decisions, and improve the accuracy and speed of diagnoses and treatments.
  2. Seamless Connectivity and Collaboration: Medical PCs facilitate seamless connectivity and collaboration among healthcare providers, allowing instant access to patient data, test results, and treatment plans across different departments and locations. This enhances care coordination, reduces errors, and enables more effective and timely decision-making.
  3. Point-of-Care Accessibility: Medical PCs are designed for mobility, enabling healthcare professionals to access patient information and record data directly at the point of care. Whether in hospital rooms, clinics, or operating theaters, these devices empower healthcare providers to deliver personalized, efficient, and patient-centric care.

Medical PCs Improve Operational Efficiency:

  1. Streamlined Workflows: Medical PCs integrate with various healthcare systems, such as electronic medical record (EMR) systems and laboratory information systems, streamlining workflows and reducing manual paperwork. They automate administrative tasks, improve data accuracy, and free up healthcare professionals’ time to focus on patient care.
  2. Medical Device Integration: Medical PCs can seamlessly interface with a wide range of medical devices, such as diagnostic equipment, patient monitors, and imaging systems. This integration enables real-time data capture, analysis, and visualization, facilitating faster diagnoses, treatment adjustments, and monitoring.
  3. Infection Control and Durability: Medical PCs are built to withstand the demanding healthcare environment. They feature antimicrobial coatings, sealed designs, and easy-to-clean surfaces to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. Their durability ensures long-term reliability, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
  4. Medication Administration and Safety: Medical PCs support barcode scanning and medication verification processes, ensuring accurate medication administration and reducing medication errors. Integration with medication management systems and decision support tools further enhances patient safety and medication management efficiency.

Meeting Regulatory and Compliance Requirements with Medical PCs:

  1. HIPAA and Data Security: Medical PCs adhere to strict data security standards, including compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). They employ robust encryption, authentication, and access control measures to safeguard patient data, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
  2. FDA and Medical Device Regulations: Medical PCs comply with the regulations set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical devices. They undergo rigorous testing and validation processes to meet safety, performance, and interoperability requirements.
  3. Quality and Certification: Medical PCs often hold certifications, such as ISO 13485 (for medical device quality management systems) and IEC 60601 (for medical electrical equipment safety). These certifications attest to the devices’ adherence to stringent quality standards, ensuring their reliability and suitability for use in healthcare settings.

As healthcare continues to advance and evolve, the role of medical PCs in powering innovation and efficiency becomes increasingly vital. These purpose-built computing devices enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. By leveraging the capabilities of medical PCs, healthcare providers can unlock the potential of technology to deliver superior care, streamline workflows, and drive healthcare innovation in an increasingly interconnected world.

Discover our medical PCs at: https://www.tangent.com/medical-computers/

The Advantages and Limitations of Medical PCs in Clinical Settings

Michelle

Medical PCs are specialized computers designed for use in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices. These computers are specifically built to meet the unique needs of healthcare professionals and provide reliable, high-performance computing solutions in clinical settings. In this blog, we will explore the advantages and limitations of medical PCs in clinical settings.

Advantages of Medical PCs in Clinical Settings

Enhanced Data Security

Medical PCs are built with robust security features to safeguard sensitive patient data from cyber threats. These computers are equipped with advanced encryption protocols and access controls that prevent unauthorized access to patient records and other confidential data. Additionally, medical PCs are often equipped with biometric authentication systems, such as fingerprint scanners or facial recognition software, which further enhance data security and ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive patient information.

Improved Workflow Efficiency

Medical PCs are designed to improve workflow efficiency in clinical settings. These computers are equipped with specialized software that enables healthcare professionals to manage patient records, track medication, and schedule appointments more efficiently. Moreover, medical PCs are often integrated with other healthcare systems, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical decision support tools, which streamline workflows and reduce administrative burdens for healthcare professionals.

High Performance and Durability

Medical PCs are built to withstand the demanding environments of clinical settings. These computers are constructed with high-quality components that ensure reliable, high-performance computing even in harsh conditions. Medical PCs are often designed to be dust-proof, water-resistant, and shock-resistant, which reduces the risk of damage from spills, falls, and other accidents that may occur in busy clinical environments. Furthermore, medical PCs are often equipped with powerful processors, ample memory, and high-speed storage, which enable healthcare professionals to run multiple applications simultaneously and access patient records quickly and efficiently.

Versatility

Medical PCs are versatile computing solutions that can be customized to meet the unique needs of healthcare facilities. These computers can be configured with a wide range of hardware and software options, including touchscreen displays, barcode scanners, and RFID readers, which enable healthcare professionals to perform a variety of tasks and manage patient care more efficiently. Furthermore, medical PCs can be mounted on carts or walls, which allows for greater flexibility in clinical settings.

Limitations of Medical PCs in Clinical Settings

  1. Cost

Medical PCs can be expensive compared to standard desktop computers. The cost of medical PCs is typically higher due to the specialized components and features required to meet the demands of clinical settings. While the higher cost of medical PCs can be justified by the increased efficiency and productivity they provide, it can be a barrier for smaller healthcare facilities with limited budgets.

  1. Maintenance

Medical PCs require regular maintenance to ensure they remain in optimal working condition. Healthcare facilities must ensure that medical PCs are regularly cleaned, updated, and serviced to prevent malfunctions and ensure reliable performance. Moreover, medical PCs require specialized technical support, which can be costly and time-consuming for healthcare facilities.

  1. Training

Healthcare professionals must be trained to use medical PCs effectively. While medical PCs are designed to be user-friendly, healthcare professionals must understand how to use the specialized software and features to maximize their efficiency and productivity. This training can be time-consuming and expensive, particularly for larger healthcare facilities with numerous employees.

Medical PCs offer a range of advantages in clinical settings, including enhanced data security, improved workflow efficiency, high performance, durability, and versatility. While there are limitations to medical PCs, such as cost, maintenance, and training requirements, the benefits they provide make them an indispensable tool for healthcare professionals. Ultimately, healthcare facilities must weigh the advantages and limitations of medical PCs and determine whether they are the best computing solution for their unique needs.

Choosing the Right Medical PC

Choosing the Right Medical PC for Your Healthcare Facility

Michelle

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare industry, technology plays an increasingly crucial role in patient care. Medical PCs are one such technological innovation that has transformed the healthcare industry by improving patient outcomes, increasing efficiency, and providing healthcare professionals with real-time patient information. Choosing the right medical PC for your healthcare facility is an essential decision that can have far-reaching consequences. In this blog post, we will discuss some key factors that healthcare providers should consider when selecting a medical PC.

Durability

The first factor to consider when choosing a medical PC is its durability. Medical PCs must be durable and reliable, as they will be subject to frequent use, high traffic, and harsh environmental conditions. They must also be able to withstand regular cleaning and disinfection without compromising their functionality. A medical PC that fails or malfunctions during a critical moment can put patients at risk and create additional workload for staff. Therefore, it’s important to select a medical PC that is specifically designed and built for the healthcare industry.

Infection Control

Infection control is a crucial consideration in the healthcare industry. Medical PCs must be designed to minimize the risk of cross-contamination and the spread of infections. This can be achieved by selecting medical PCs with antimicrobial coatings, which prevent the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi on surfaces. Additionally, medical PCs should be designed with smooth and flat surfaces that can be easily cleaned and disinfected without harboring bacteria or viruses.

Flexibility

Flexibility is another important factor to consider when selecting a medical PC. Medical PCs should be able to adapt to different healthcare environments and workflows. For example, medical PCs that are wall-mounted can save valuable space in a crowded hospital room, while mobile medical PCs can provide flexibility in a clinic or emergency room setting. Medical PCs with adjustable stands or mounts can also allow healthcare professionals to work comfortably in a variety of positions.

Connectivity

The ability to access and share patient data is critical in the healthcare industry. Medical PCs should be able to connect to a variety of healthcare networks and systems, including electronic health records (EHRs), picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and other medical devices. This allows healthcare professionals to access patient information quickly and easily, making informed decisions about patient care. Medical PCs should also be equipped with reliable wireless connectivity, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, to ensure seamless data transfer.

Ergonomics

Healthcare professionals spend long hours working with medical PCs. Therefore, it’s important to select medical PCs that are designed with ergonomics in mind. Medical PCs should have adjustable screens, keyboards, and mice to allow healthcare professionals to work comfortably and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, medical PCs should be designed with anti-glare screens and adequate lighting to reduce eye strain and fatigue.

Performance

Medical PCs must be able to handle the demanding applications and software required in the healthcare industry. They should have powerful processors, ample memory, and high-quality graphics capabilities to provide healthcare professionals with fast and accurate data processing. Additionally, medical PCs should be able to run multiple applications simultaneously without compromising performance or speed.

Security

Patient privacy and data security are critical in the healthcare industry. Medical PCs should be equipped with advanced security features, such as password protection, biometric authentication, and encryption. Additionally, medical PCs should be designed to meet regulatory standards, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of patient data.

Service and Support

Finally, it’s important to select medical PCs from a reputable vendor that offers comprehensive service and support. Medical PCs require ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and repairs to ensure their reliability and performance. A vendor that provides timely and responsive technical support.

Tangent offers medical PCs with cutting-edge technology and exceptional customer service. You can review our medical computers at Tangent.com.

medical pcs in healthcare

The Role of Medical PCs in Modern Healthcare

Michelle

Medical PCs have become an essential component in modern healthcare, enabling healthcare providers to provide efficient, accurate, and effective patient care. Medical PCs are computers designed specifically for use in healthcare settings, with features and functions that cater to the unique needs of healthcare providers. In this blog, we will explore the role of medical PCs in modern healthcare and the benefits they offer to healthcare providers.

Role of Medical PCs in Modern Healthcare:

  1. Medical PCs streamline healthcare operations

Medical PCs have transformed healthcare operations, allowing healthcare providers to streamline their workflows and reduce the risk of errors. Medical PCs are designed to be used in clinical settings, with features such as touch screens, antimicrobial coatings, and fanless designs to ensure they are durable, easy to clean, and hygienic. These features make medical PCs ideal for use in healthcare environments where infection control is critical.

  1. Medical PCs improve patient care

Medical PCs have a significant impact on patient care, enabling healthcare providers to access patient records, review test results, and communicate with other healthcare professionals in real-time. Medical PCs are often used in conjunction with electronic health record (EHR) systems, enabling healthcare providers to access and update patient records instantly. This can lead to better patient outcomes, improved patient safety, and reduced medical errors.

  1. Medical PCs enhance clinical decision-making

Medical PCs provide healthcare providers with access to critical patient data, enabling them to make informed decisions about patient care. Medical PCs can be used to display medical images, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, providing healthcare providers with a detailed view of a patient’s condition. Medical PCs can also be used to access medical reference materials, such as medical textbooks and clinical guidelines, providing healthcare providers with the latest information about medical conditions and treatments.

Benefits of Medical PCs in Modern Healthcare:

  1. Increased efficiency

Medical PCs enable healthcare providers to access patient records and other medical data quickly and easily, reducing the time needed for administrative tasks and enabling providers to focus on patient care.

  1. Improved accuracy

Medical PCs provide healthcare providers with access to real-time patient data, reducing the risk of errors and improving patient safety.

  1. Better communication

Medical PCs enable healthcare providers to communicate with other healthcare professionals in real-time, facilitating collaboration and improving the quality of patient care.

  1. Enhanced patient care

Medical PCs enable healthcare providers to access critical patient data, providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions about patient care.

  1. Improved patient outcomes

Medical PCs can lead to better patient outcomes by reducing medical errors, improving patient safety, and enabling healthcare providers to provide more accurate and effective patient care.

Medical PCs have become an integral part of modern healthcare, providing healthcare providers with the tools they need to provide efficient, accurate, and effective patient care. Medical PCs enable healthcare providers to streamline their workflows, access critical patient data, and communicate with other healthcare professionals in real-time. The benefits of medical PCs in modern healthcare are numerous, and they are likely to play an increasingly important role in the future of healthcare.

medical pc

Medical PC Defined

Michelle

Medical PC Definition

Medical PCs or medical computers are developed with the healthcare industry in mind. To be called medical grade, a personal computer for the healthcare industry must carry the UL/IEC60601-1 certification. After passing rigorous safety and performance tests, medical computers earn IEC 60601-1 certification. Validation is an additional safety measure that guarantees the medical gadget will not damage its users. 

Use of Medical Computers for EHR

Although some doctors still prefer paper charts, electronic health records (EHRs) have quickly become the industry standard. Financial incentives for Medicare providers who show substantial use of technology for EHR were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

A medical-grade computer needs to handle health records quickly to finish a patient visit on time. In addition, HIPAA compliance under the HITECH Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is also required, as patient privacy is becoming increasingly important.

Try to find a PC that has these features:

  • The IP65 rating for dust ingress and low-pressure water jets ensures that the medical computer can withstand normal use in a hospital environment. When it comes to liquid ingress, a medical PC with this grade can be sprayed and wiped clean without fear of damaging the internal components.
  • Special medical computers pioneered the introduction of a medical-grade computer with hot-swappable batteries by becoming the first computer manufacturer to do so. To meet the specific requirement of medical cart device integration, this function is well positioned to help the healthcare sector.

Surgical and Diagnostic Applications

The imaging capabilities of medical-grade computers have the potential to aid in patient care. For example, computers with the right graphics processing unit, screen resolution, central processing unit speed, and software compatibility can visualize a patient’s inside organs to aid surgeons during surgery. Moreover, diagnostic MRI and CT images are shown on computers, giving radiologists crucial data.

Diagnosticians can now see more clearly than ever, thanks to software and high-definition screen advancements.

Why do doctors need a computer?

It is common practice for doctors to inquire about a patient’s medical background, including previous diagnoses, current health issues, and medications. A database can be used to store this data effectively. Computers can also manage patient records, including prescriptions and payments.

How do nurses use computers in patient care?

The electronic health record (EHR) is a computerized record of a patient’s medical history that includes details about the care they’ve received from their nurses, the interventions they’ve had, and the patient’s response and progress toward their healthcare goal.

Did you know that most employees receive an average of 14 malicious emails per day? Or that phishing peaks around holiday times?

Email spoofing is a huge threat. Almost 95% of all phishing attacks are done through email, which makes it crucial to protect this in and outgoing channel. How can you do that?

This is where DMARC comes in. DMARC is a technical protocol that typically handles emails that aren’t authenticated, protecting email senders and receivers from spoofing, phishing, and fraud.

But does it do that? Let’s find out.

What Is Email Spoofing?

Email spoofing is a phishing technique used by would-be hackers to trick users like company employees into thinking a message came from a trusted entity or person when it didn’t.

Usually, the sender forges a trusted subject line like “Stimulus Cancellation Request Approved” or “Changes to your health benefits” to invite users to open the email, which they usually do because they often don’t inspect the header closely.

So, because they think the email is genuine, they open malware-embedded attachments, share sensitive data, and even back account details with these potential hackers.

Why Does Email Spoofing Happen?

Email spoofing happens because of the way email is designed. Let us explain. Usually, outgoing emails are assigned a specific sender address, but there’s no way to detect if the address is fake or legit.

As a result, fake emails can arrive in your inbox without you being the wiser.

Fortunately, your server, email service provider, and antimalware software can detect and filter suspicious-looking messages. And one of these solutions is DMARC.

What Is DMARC?

Domain-based Authentication Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) is a technical protocol — you can think of it like a gateway — that protects you from suspicious-looking emails.

It runs all emails you receive through DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) to protect you from hackers, spoofers, and fraudsters.

DMARC allows you to specify actions you’d like to take when an email fails SPF and DKIN authentication. This is done by using three different DMARC policies, including:

● P=none Policy — It keeps an eye on any DMARC-failed email, but it won’t stop that email from arriving in your inbox.

● P=quarantine Policy — It will send all DMARC-failed emails into your spam folder, reducing the chances of information leaks.

● P=reject Policy — It will reject DMARC-failed emails, stopping them from reaching your inbox.

How Can DMARC Protect You From Email Spoofing?

As mentioned above, DMARC tells email servers what to do when they receive a suspicious-looking message from someone outside your organization. Here’s how it does that:

● DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) — It embeds a unique digital sign into every sent email. Receivers use the sign to verify the authenticity of the email and ensure it wasn’t forged during transit.

● Sender Policy Framework (SPF) — It allows you to authorize IP addresses allowed to send emails to you. Your server can then identify whether the message you received came from a server allowed by you.

Both of these email authentication methods increase the safety of your inbox and decrease the chances of you encountering malware in emails.

The Bottom Line

Spoofers are always looking for ways to get into your domain. But DMARC can’t stop them in their tracks, stopping information leaks, increasing legitimate email delivery, and saving you thousands of dollars in losses.

So, configure and monitor your domain’s DMARC policy to limit your exposure to email spoofing. You never know when you might need it.

medical pcs

Waterproof Properties of Medical PCs

Michelle

Computers have become the backbone of the health care industry. They allow medical workers to efficiently process patient cases, control devices that perform CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs, or blood tests, and help doctors show patients their X-rays to explain their situation.

And given the technical demands of the health care environment, purchasing waterproof medical PCs that can withstand incidents like blood and vomit splatter is crucial. But how can you know if a medical PC is waterproof?

Let’s find out. 

Why Do Medical PCs Need to Be Waterproof?

As medical PCs are used in ICUs, emergency rooms, and wards, they’re often exposed to fluids like vomit, blood, or urine that could penetrate inside and damage the motherboard or processor of the computer, rendering it unusable. 

And this is not a farfetched scenario. 

In reality, liquid spills are par for the course in hospitals, so the likelihood of liquid exposure is very high. Also, a medical PC that shuts down in the middle of an operation can be disastrous for the patient, surgeon, and hospital. 

So, all medical PCs must have an IP65 rating, which means they must come with sealed bezels and zero crevices that could lead to water intake. 

3 Properties That Make Medical PCs Waterproof

Medical PCs aren’t like consumer-grade PCs, which have dozens of crevices through which water can sneak in. But what makes them different?  

  1. They Have Sealed Bezels 

Unlike conventional PCs, medical PCs come with sealed front bezels that prevent water from penetrating the PC components. 

As a result, the likelihood of the PC’s processor being soaked in an accidental liquid spill decreases, allowing surgeries and screenings to continue in even the dampest environments.   

  1. They Have Waterproof Panels

Hospitals and other health care environments are pits of bacteria, so medical PCs have to be scrubbed every few hours with antibiotic and antiviral solutions to keep infections at bay. 

As a result, their outer surfaces have to be water-resistant so water doesn’t seep into the inner components when they are scrubbed using chlorine-water solutions or alcohol. 

  1. They Have an IP65 Rating

An IP65 rating protects an appliance against condensation, water spray, and low-pressure water jets from all directions. Medical PCs usually have an IP65 rating, which means they’re protected against accidental liquid spills in the hospital environment. 

The Bottom Line

The hospital environment is a hotbed of liquid spills and constant antimicrobial scrubbing, so any PC used in a health care setting is likely to get soaked at one time or another. And if the PC isn’t waterproof, it may be damaged beyond repair. 

Thus, medical PCs, such as Tangent’s Medix M27T and Medix M24T, should have sealed bezels, an IP65 rating, and waterproof panels to withstand the hospital environment. 

Why Medical PCs Still Have Serial Ports

Michelle

When everybody’s using USB ports, having a medical computer with a serial port can seem like you’re ten steps behind everyone in the tech world. 

That’s not true.  

Serial ports are not obsolete. They’re usually used to connect older hospital equipment with new computers. But is that the only reason serial ports are still used today? Let’s find out.  

What Are Serial Ports?

A serial port is a connection interface used to join serial devices, such as modems, to a computer. It allows the computer to transfer one bit at a time. 

Serial ports were invented in the ‘80s and are the oldest types of interfaces currently being used. They are usually used as communication devices for flat-screen monitors, bar-code scanners, and GPS receivers. 

Uses of Serial Ports

Serial ports are used to connect some of the following serial devices: 

  • Mice, usually on computers without USB or PS/2 connections.
  • Modems, such as cable and DSL modems.
  • Printers, mostly older models.  
  • Network devices like switches, webcams, routers, repeaters, bridges, etc. 

Serial Ports vs. USB Ports

There are several differences between USB and serial ports, such as:

  • Serial ports transfer data at the speed of 1 to 10 Mbps, while USB (Gen 1) ports transfer data at up to 12 Mbps. 
  • USB ports can provide power, but serial ports cannot. 
  • Serial ports use fragile pins that are easy to bend or break. In contrast, USB pins are stronger and more difficult to damage. 

So, if serial ports are so bad, why are they even used anymore? 

Why Do Medical PCs Still Have Serial Ports?

Despite being slow in our modern age, serial ports are used in the medical industry because they are easy to use, do not require custom drivers, and are supported by most operating systems. 

Moreover, a lot of the medical equipment currently used in the health care industry features serial ports because of their ease of use and reliability, and the only way to transfer data to legacy tech is through serial ports, making them invaluable.

The Takeaway

Serial ports aren’t obsolete or bad. Instead, they are some of the most useful connection ports in the health care industry. They connect medical PCs and serial devices together. 

Moreover, they also link legacy devices to computers, allowing the transfer of data that otherwise would’ve gone unused.    

So, we should give credit where it’s due, and in the case of serial ports, their efforts have gone unrecognized for too long. 

Medical PC Explained

Michelle

Medical PCs are one of the best technologies for ensuring healthcare quality and safety. Hospitals must be selective in technology as not all technologies improve patient safety. Utilizing computer and information technology for electronic health records (EHR) has become a standard practice in health care.

In hospitals, medical computers are also becoming more common. Some advantages may be familiar to you, like storing, accessing, and sharing patient information. A medical computer is designed specifically for use in healthcare settings, reducing the time healthcare providers spend on non-essential tasks.

Medical PCs reduce human error, enhance clinical outcomes, facilitate care coordination, improve practice efficiency, and keep data track. There are computers everywhere today, including at the bedside of patients, on nursing carts, at nurse stations, laboratories, and in operating rooms. This article discusses how healthcare professionals use computers in various situations.

Surgical & Diagnostic

A Medical PC can benefit patient care due to its imaging capabilities. Computers with the correct graphics processor, CPU performance, display, and software compatibility can provide surgeons with a clear picture of a patient’s inner workings when guiding them during surgery. 

A computer displays MRI and CT scans for radiologists, providing them with critical information about the patient’s condition. Diagnosticians can now see better and quickly detect what they want with new software and high-definition screens.

Care of Critically ill Patient

Some therapeutic interventions are necessary to optimize a patient’s odds of survival when critically ill. These interventions require regular monitoring of variables and the availability of the resulting data to clinicians and nursing staff. If the data is not presented clearly, the significance of the information recorded can be lost. 

Computerized data management is now possible in the intensive care unit. Data management includes entering, integrating, and monitoring all vital signs, medicines, intake and output volumes, and laboratory values. 

Medical Imaging

Computers have been used for high-resolution image generation in the past decade. But now, specialized medical PCs are used for generating images like CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds. Connecting these computers with the main hospital information system is possible. Using three-dimensional pictures of real human anatomy, regional physiology, and disease-related biochemistry is normal.

Conclusion

Medical PCs are frequently used in psychiatry, physiological testing, medical teaching, literature searches, operating, keeping a record of patients, and more! Having a medical PC at a health center ensures the patient’s safety and proper treatment. It can even record thousands of patients’ data.