9 Tablets Fit For Doctors
Since healthcare pros have embraced tablets in a big way, tablet makers have come up with a few design and feature twists for this demanding audience.
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Tech managers responsible for equipping medical personnel with equipment and applications see a big future for the use of computer tablets. According to a survey conducted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), 69% of individuals who are responsible for developing mobile technology policy said that tablet computers are part of their organizations' mobile technology strategy and 81% said that their proposed mobile technology policy would include tablets. Among the organizations that already provide mobile devices to clinicians to perform their day-to-day activities, tablets were used 57% of the time.
The stats make it clear that tablets have revolutionized the way data is captured and retrieved at the point-of-care, replacing bulky clipboards and paper-based files. They provide physicians, pharmacists, and nurses with mobility, up-to-date patient information at their fingertips, and can also help reduce errors. Equally important, they make it easier for clinicians to review patient records, lab results, and prescription drug information.
One option, the Motion C5v tablet from Motion Computing has been specifically designed for the healthcare market. It is lightweight (3 pounds) and rugged, fully sealed, and compliant with infection control protocols. Marketed as a Mobile Clinical Assistant, the C5v uses one of a number of advanced Intel chips, up to the Intel Core i7 vPro processor. The tablet also offers extended battery life and advanced remote management capabilities.
A hot swap battery feature allows users to easily replace an existing battery with a charged battery while the tablet is operating, with no need to shut down or standby. Users can get up to four hours of work from one charged battery. The advanced remote management capabilities are linked to the Intel vPro processor. Its three remote management functions are anti-theft, which allows users to wipe a machine clean and/or encrypt it; remote management, which allows the end user to connect to the tablet without accessing the operating system, turns the device on remotely even though the actual unit is off, pushes updates through, and provides a communication channel to the server; and performance management, which can reduce the load on the battery and provide better performance.
Among its other features: optional barcode scanner and integrated RFID reader for patient ID, order entry, and medication administration. The tablet can be used at the patient bedside where physicians can review treatment options with patients. It can also be used for computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and electronic medication administration records.
Designed specifically for healthcare marketplace in conjunction with IntelHealth, the Motion C5v has a docking station, an optional front-facing digital camera for photographic or video documentation, handwriting recognition capabilities, and mobile broadband with enhanced GPS functionality. It is now available with a 30-GB solid state drive. The company touts its durability, integrated features, and ergonomic design. It comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and an optional mobile broadband with Gobi connectivity.
The Apple iPad features iOS, the company's operating system, and an A5 chip with two cores, which allows for smooth multitasking and quick downloads. In the healthcare setting, some of the apps include medical imaging, medical inventory management, and medical reference sites such as Blausen Human Atlas and Visual Dx Mobile. Apple says the iPad 2 has nine times the graphics performance of its first-generation model, and the thin, light tablet has a 10-hour battery life.
Many clinicians find the iPad appealing because of the huge collection of medical apps available for the device. Pictured here is the iPad with a screenshot of an application from 3d4 Medical.
Fujitsu has been providing tablet PCs to the healthcare industry for more than 20 years. The Windows-based tablets are used in a variety of applications including electronic medical records (EMR), practice management apps, imaging workflow apps, CPOE, Pharma field sales support, and e-prescribing. The 10-inch Stylistic Q550 slate PC has advanced security, has passed military quality and durability tests, includes multi-touch and digital pen support, and has a quick-swap removable battery. In the case of the Stylistic Q550, it is has been tested for various demanding environmental conditions such as blowing dust, transit drop, functional shock, vehicle vibration, vibration integrity, altitude, low and high temperatures, and humidity.
It features an Intel Atom z670 (1.5-GHz, 512-KB cache) processor, a bright (400-nit), anti-glare, 10.1-inch WXGA LED backlit IPS display with 160 degree vertical and horizontal viewing angles, a capacitive multi-touch screen with digital pen input, and a Quick-swap Lithium ion (4-cell, 38 WHr) battery.
With its easy conversion from a desktop to tablet, the X220t Convertible ThinkPad Tablet from Lenovo is sold primarily to the company's healthcare accounts. It contains a 2nd generation Intel Core processor, 23 hours of battery life, a 12.5-inch screen, and it weighs in at 2.9 lbs. Pictured here is the X220t Convertible Tablet.
Introduced in July, 2011, the Panasonic Toughbook H2 handheld tablet runs Windows 7 Professional and has an Intel Core 5 vPro processor. For healthcare environments, the Toughbook H2 has been designed for easy disinfection and does not require a fan, reducing the risk of spreading potentially pathogenic microorganisms from patient to patient. The device is a secure platform for barcode medication administration, vitals capture, and electronic medical records capture and review. At 3.5 pounds, the H2 has 6.5 hours of battery life and includes fast charging twin hot-swappable batteries.
Panasonic announced its Toughpad family of Android-powered tablets in November, 2011. The company is touting them as ideal for highly mobile workers, including healthcare personnel. The Toughpad A1 incorporates security embedded at the hardware level and offers technologies like hardware and software encryption, enhanced VPN, dual-factor authentication, trusted boot, and device management. This enhanced level of device security means the Toughpad A1 will be HIPAA-ready for healthcare environments. The Toughpad A1 has a high brightness, 10.1-inch XGA capacitive, multi-touch, daylight-viewable screen, and includes a stylus, enabling flexible data entry in the field. The Toughpad A1 will begin shipping in the spring of 2012.
The ProScribe is a mobile point-of-care display for physicians and nurses who need to stay connected when moving from patient to patient. With its touch screen, rugged durability, silent operation, and wireless connectivity, it enables medical professionals to access patient data anywhere. Popular health care apps that run on the ProScribe focus on dentistry, mammography, radiology, and surgery. Among its technical features: touch screen, on-screen electronic keyboard, programmable hot keys, and 1024 x 768 resolution on a 12-inch screen.
The CliniScape mobile clinical assistant targets nurses and physicians who need to make clinical decisions at the point-of-care. The 10-inch CliniScape boasts an ergonomic and medical-grade touch-screen and features a digital camera (2 megapixels) to capture pictures of patients' wounds. It also has an optional docking station with built-in battery charger, three USB ports, and Ethernet connectivity; it can be wiped clean to reduce spread of infection.
The ViewPad 10pro is integrated with the latest Intel z670 processor engineered specifically for tablets. Optimized to support a wide range of business, healthcare, and commercial applications, ViewPad 10pro is a good choice for mobile healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses. Healthcare applications allow clinicians to look up patient medical records and research symptoms online. It supports both Windows and Android operating systems and features a multi-touch 1024 x 600 LCD screen, and up to 32 GB of solid state storage.
The ViewPad 10pro is integrated with the latest Intel z670 processor engineered specifically for tablets. Optimized to support a wide range of business, healthcare, and commercial applications, ViewPad 10pro is a good choice for mobile healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses. Healthcare applications allow clinicians to look up patient medical records and research symptoms online. It supports both Windows and Android operating systems and features a multi-touch 1024 x 600 LCD screen, and up to 32 GB of solid state storage.
Tech managers responsible for equipping medical personnel with equipment and applications see a big future for the use of computer tablets. According to a survey conducted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), 69% of individuals who are responsible for developing mobile technology policy said that tablet computers are part of their organizations' mobile technology strategy and 81% said that their proposed mobile technology policy would include tablets. Among the organizations that already provide mobile devices to clinicians to perform their day-to-day activities, tablets were used 57% of the time.
The stats make it clear that tablets have revolutionized the way data is captured and retrieved at the point-of-care, replacing bulky clipboards and paper-based files. They provide physicians, pharmacists, and nurses with mobility, up-to-date patient information at their fingertips, and can also help reduce errors. Equally important, they make it easier for clinicians to review patient records, lab results, and prescription drug information.
One option, the Motion C5v tablet from Motion Computing has been specifically designed for the healthcare market. It is lightweight (3 pounds) and rugged, fully sealed, and compliant with infection control protocols. Marketed as a Mobile Clinical Assistant, the C5v uses one of a number of advanced Intel chips, up to the Intel Core i7 vPro processor. The tablet also offers extended battery life and advanced remote management capabilities.
A hot swap battery feature allows users to easily replace an existing battery with a charged battery while the tablet is operating, with no need to shut down or standby. Users can get up to four hours of work from one charged battery. The advanced remote management capabilities are linked to the Intel vPro processor. Its three remote management functions are anti-theft, which allows users to wipe a machine clean and/or encrypt it; remote management, which allows the end user to connect to the tablet without accessing the operating system, turns the device on remotely even though the actual unit is off, pushes updates through, and provides a communication channel to the server; and performance management, which can reduce the load on the battery and provide better performance.
Among its other features: optional barcode scanner and integrated RFID reader for patient ID, order entry, and medication administration. The tablet can be used at the patient bedside where physicians can review treatment options with patients. It can also be used for computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and electronic medication administration records.
Designed specifically for healthcare marketplace in conjunction with IntelHealth, the Motion C5v has a docking station, an optional front-facing digital camera for photographic or video documentation, handwriting recognition capabilities, and mobile broadband with enhanced GPS functionality. It is now available with a 30-GB solid state drive. The company touts its durability, integrated features, and ergonomic design. It comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and an optional mobile broadband with Gobi connectivity.
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