Better Tools Equal Better Care

For hospital staff, the benefits of connected workstations are immediate. Nurses and physicians can’t afford delays caused by malfunctioning carts or inaccessible equipment. With connected technology, issues are reported automatically or logged by the user in just a few taps on the workstation’s display.

“Caregivers now spend less time on administrative work or troubleshooting issues and more time focused on patients,” Grenwis says. 

Features such as radio-frequency ID badge tap and single sign-on integration also streamline access to secure systems, eliminating the need to juggle multiple passwords.

Even small details make a difference. Fast-charging USB ports allow staff to power their devices during a shift. If a computer needs a reboot, caregivers can restart it directly from the workstation’s display rather than waiting for IT. Video tutorials can be pulled up on the spot, supporting training without slowing down workflow.

According to Grenwis, these changes ultimately reduce frustration and free up valuable time. 

“If IT can address a cart issue the moment it arises, downtime is limited,” Grenwis says. “That means caregivers can quickly get back to what matters most, which is delivering care.”

RELATED: Create healthcare workspaces that support clinicians and patients.

Connected Workstation Implementation and the Road Ahead

Adopting new technology at scale can come with hurdles. Healthcare leaders may worry about security, network load or the complexity of real-time location systems. Ergotron has worked to address those concerns by building connected workstations with secure, government-grade encryption, minimal bandwidth requirements, and preconfigured Bluetooth low energy mesh networking to eliminate the need for separate tags or complicated setup.

For IT leaders evaluating deployment, Grenwis recommends weighing the level of vendor support provided. 

“Healthcare systems should ask how much of the implementation they’ll need to resource internally versus what the vendor will handle,” Grenwis says. “The best solutions minimize complexity and make the out-of-box experience as straightforward as possible.”