Medical supply carts are an essential piece of equipment in a modern, well-equipped healthcare facility. However, the large array of different choices, configurations, and custom cart options available can be confusing if you don’t know where to look.

Without proper guidance, it can be challenging to discern what makes a high-quality medical cart and which features your fleet should possess. Answering some of the most frequently asked questions regarding supply carts can help you make the right decisions.

The primary purpose of a medical supply cart is to allow medical personnel to transport medical equipment, medication, and other peripherals, ranging from laptops to scanners.

While no single medical cart can fulfill every possible role, you can build a fleet of different carts, each with a dedicated purpose.

For example, crash carts carry equipment designed explicitly for resuscitating patients suffering from cardiac arrests, including IV tubing and a defibrillator, while anesthesia carts carry anesthetics medication and delivery equipment.

Keep in mind there is no such thing as a standard medication list; the closest thing is recommendation lists, such as those published by the ACLS for crash carts. If your facility regularly treats children or has a pediatric ward, you may find it helpful to add dedicated pediatric equipment to your medical carts as well.

Every caregiving facility has different needs and supply chains. Whether you manage a clinic, a critical access hospital, an elderly nursing care facility, or any other facility accredited by the Joint Commission, it is essential to assess your medical equipment needs and adapt your carts accordingly.

There are different battery technologies available for powering equipment on medical supply carts. Batteries power many different devices, such as laptops, scanners, life signs readers, and other peripherals.

Lead-acid (Pb-acid) batteries are similar in appearance and composition to a car battery. While inexpensive and long-lasting, these batteries are heavy and recharge very slowly, making them impractical for use in a healthcare environment.

A more modern alternative is the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. Long used in rechargeable batteries, they are most commonly encountered today in mobile phones and laptops. While they theoretically possess a higher energy density than lead-acid batteries, most of them tend to have a lower capacity, requiring frequent recharging.

Li-ion batteries may also be unsafe for long-term use. The more a Li-ion battery ages and undergoes complete charging cycles, the more it loses efficiency, progressively increasing the risk of swelling. Swollen batteries present an explosion hazard, making them unsuitable for use on mobile supply carts.

As they roll across floors, standard casters accumulate static electricity, potentially disrupting or damaging mounted equipment.

For example, laptops may suffer bugs or crash, biometrically-locked internal medicine drawers may refuse to open, or vital sign readers may fail, leaving your staff with faulty or non-functional equipment.

Patient safety should be your highest priority in a healthcare environment, and preventing these potentially life-threatening issues is critical.

Quality products should feature anti-static casters certified for medical environments. These casters dispel and redirect static electricity back into the floor, preventing it from damaging your equipment.

If you’re looking to outfit your caregiving facility with a fleet of medical supply carts, KbPort Healthcare is here to help you.

We offer a full range of new and used mobile carts, stress-tested for all applications in healthcare environments. If the standard items don’t answer your needs, we also provide a custom cart service to meet your exact specifications.

Feel free to contact us for a personalized quote or if you need more information about our products.

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