According to Gartner research, 20% of hospitals in the U.S. offer patients access to medical information and entertainment on iPads or other tablets. This trend in interactive patient care should only grow as hospitals discover the improved efficiency and quality of care these devices can provide. This is also related to a broader reality hospitals must face: the pervasive use of mobile devices by patients, staff and visitors in patient rooms.
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Benefits of iPads for Patients
Below are a few advantages hospital iPads can provide for patients:
- Communication with Hospital Staff: Review medical imaging with doctors, report pain and log symptoms with a few taps on the screen
- Communication with Friends and Family: Talk, message, video chat and share test updates
- Entertainment: Access hospital-provided or patient-provided content
- Comfort and Convenience: Control room lighting and temperature, order food, provide billing and insurance information for hospital administration
Hospital iPad Charging
There will always be obstacles regarding data security, privacy and user training when distributing IT devices en masse, but a more immediate challenge with iPads and other electronic devices in patient rooms is, how to keep them charged while ensuring safety and code compliance.
A charger used within a six-foot radius of a patient bed (defined as the patient care vicinity) must comply with UL/IEC 60601-1 regulations for safety. The USB chargers that come included with most mobile devices do not meet this standard and therefore pose an unacceptable risk of shock to patients and staff.
Hospital Device Policies
If they don’t already, hospitals should develop a clear Device Charging Policy for patients, visitors and even staff. This might include varying degrees of restrictiveness, such as:
- No charging of personal electronic devices anywhere in patient rooms.
or
- If charging a personal electronic device in a patient room, it must be done outside of the patient care vicinity.
This can pose a challenge of course for patients themselves, especially those with limited mobility. A third option, which is both safe and accommodating, would be:
- If charging a personal electronic device within the patient care vicinity, a charger meeting the 60601-1 standard must be used.
Hospital-Grade Solutions
Tripp Lite’s U280-001-W2-HG is the only USB wall charger on the market to meet the UL/IEC 60601-1 standard.
Explore hospital-grade power protection and connectivity solutions from Tripp Lite.
Visit tripplite.com to explore Tripp Lite’s power protection, power supply and regulatory compliance solutions for healthcare facilities.
