The demand for computer capability has increased because of encroaching software complexity; we can no longer use clunky, old hardware to help our doctors and nurses complete an entire hospital shift. It's not just a matter of how slow a process might run on a medical computer, but rather if a computer is compatible with software in question and how physicians interact with the computers. One of the reasons aging computers put restraints on the workflow for a hospital is because of increasing software demands, so here are several ways that software may drive the necessary upgrade in hardware.
Medical Computers are Popular for Multitasking
Computers don't always serve just one purpose—multitasking is a commonplace activity, so what's required is enough memory in order to support the concurrent programs they run simultaneously. Not enough RAM will turn any computer sluggish—multitasking and load time will suffer. It isn't always easy to install more after deployment depending on the system. Some are sealed shut to prevent ingress, and so installing RAM may damage the internal components. Or, if the person installing RAM isn't careful, the entire computer could receive electrostatic discharge turning it into a nice paperweight. The best way to address this problem is ensuring each computer in a deployment has more RAM than the minimum to run a particular software product. It's a good idea to install the recommended level of RAM or go beyond what's recommended. Thankfully, a lot of medical computers have customization options to choose how much RAM should be installed into the system before deployment.
EMR Systems Need Processing Power
If your EMR system is running sluggish, it's time to upgrade. Most likely it's a problem of an aged processor that can't handle the number of Floating Point Operations Per Second (FLOPS), one measurement among many to determine the speed of a processor. Imagine all the frustrated doctors and nurses waiting to open a patient's chart while the computer cycles for several minutes just to display information. With the wide processor availability on the market, it can be a little confusing on what to select for a processor. Computers with Epic certification often run 6th generation Intel Skylake processors, common CPUs for a lot of Epic's more complex modules. Medical staff can rest assured that the processor can handle software modules with ease and won't suffer from excessive load times or computer hang-ups.
EMR Software Modules Utilize Touch Screen
A computer's internal components aren't the only factor in running a software product optimally. The way a doctor, nurse, or staff member interfaces with the software is also important. Imagine installing a VESA mountable computer only to find there's no surface for using a keyboard or mouse and the computer isn't touch-screen enabled! Touch screen functionality is important because it frees up the hands and removes the need for a physical keyboard if there's no space for one. Plus, some EMR software products are only compatible with screens that are 24 inches diagonally in order to display all patient information. Computers with Epic certification are typically 24 inches or wider because of the visual aspect ratio for Epic; anything smaller and the software won't run optimally—or at all.
Dedicated Video is a Must for some EMR Software
Surgeons using EMR software to give them instant video feedback—take an endoscopy for example—can't use unclear, low-definition, choppy video to perform successful operations on patients. Upgrading to a surgical display equipped with a dedicated NVIDIA card is best for surgeons so they're able to see in real-time what they're doing as they perform on patients. Integrated video cards don't provide that level of sophistication, so they pale in comparison to what a surgical display might provide.
Increased Software Security Means Increased Hardware Security
HIPAA violations are no laughing matter, and EMR software is developed with security in mind to prevent those violations. However, the software here dictates the requirements for hardware. Without a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), patient data is at a greater risk. TPMs encrypt patient information so drives can't be pulled out of a medical computer and installed into a different computer, adding a layer of protection to sensitive information.
At Cybernet, we work with our partners to understand the complex challenges that healthcare IT professionals face on a daily basis. Because of that, we have engineered a full line of medical grade computers specifically engineered for multiple hospital and healthcare applications. For more information you can check out our website or contact us here.