Humanity has practiced veterinary medicine for as long as we've domesticated animals. From ancient Egypt to China, veterinarians have treated the animals we call pets and beasts of burden since 3000 BCE.
But like the broader healthcare field, veterinary medicine has experienced massive technological breakthroughs. In the modern era, specialized computer equipment for veterinary hospitals helps deliver better care for their four-legged patients.
In today's article, we'll explore the types of computers used in veterinary hospitals, their roles, and how to pick the right veterinary equipment to suit your needs.
How Is Computer Equipment Used in a Veterinary Setting?
Computers are used in veterinary clinics almost identically to how they are used in clinics and hospitals for humans. Whether deployed for reception and administrative tasks or manage anesthesia during an operation, computers streamline workflows and help vets deliver better patient results.
Medical Record Keeping
Many veterinary hospitals are switching from paper records to digital electronic health records (EHRs). These digital records are less perishable than their paper equivalents and can be easily accessed by any device with the proper authorization.
Animal healthcare providers update records while performing tasks like charting and administering medicine, ensuring that anyone accessing them works with the latest version. This practice minimizes the risk of errors, such as misdiagnosis or administering incorrect medication.
Reception Services
Animal owners must sign in and fill out various forms at the vet hospital or clinic. In the past, this required the time and attention of staff members to hand over these forms and ensure they were completed correctly.
Using a check-in kiosk with an integrated computer or tablet lets owners do so electronically, saving paper and the reception staff's time.
Diagnostic Services
Diagnostic machines such as X-rays and MRIs are critical for determining what is wrong with a sick or injured animal. However, displaying the results from these machines requires a medical-grade monitor with a crisp, high-definition display.
Integrating an anti-glare filter is often critical because these monitors are also frequently used in areas with harsh, direct light.
Surgeries and Surgical Management
A computer's reliability and hygienic qualities are paramount in a surgical environment. Equipment failure in the middle of surgery is unacceptable, so any medical computer must be able to operate for hours, even days on end, without breaking down.
Just like any other tool or object in a surgery room, computers must also be frequently cleaned and disinfected to prevent any chance of infection. However, these harsh disinfectants can damage a computer's delicate internal electronics.
To prevent this damage, a proper medical-grade computer will have a casing with a strong ingress protection (IP) rating.
Telehealth and Telemedicine
The advent of high-definition video streaming and web cameras has made remote consultations convenient for pet owners and veterinarians. Telehealth is also incredibly useful for patients and owners living in rural areas without easy access to a vet in person.
Three Types of Computer Equipment for Vet Hospitals
When it comes to veterinary hospital equipment, there are three main types of computers: workstations, mobile tablets, and medical-grade computers used in near-patient roles. Each computer type has a role to play in a modern vet hospital or clinic.
Workstations
Workstations are exactly what their name implies: places where vets and other staff can fulfill tasks when not working directly with their patients. This can include administrative or clerical work, writing communications with pet owners, purchasing new equipment, and more.
Because these computers often interact with patient data or financial information, security features like Imprivata encryption and visual privacy filters are necessary.
Medical Tablets
Tablets are a lightweight and convenient option for healthcare providers (vets included) needing a handheld computer. In human and animal healthcare, medical tablets are most frequently used in charting tasks as providers move from patient to patient and note changes in their condition.
This lets providers track if a patient responds positively to treatment or if something needs to be changed.
Medical-Grade Computers
When working in a near-patient capacity, such as in an operating room, meeting the standards expected of a medical-grade computer is critical. At the minimum, a medical-grade computer should have the IEC 60601-1 certification, which ensures it will not shock the user or patient during use.
It should also have an IP rating of 65 to ensure dust and water won't compromise its operations and be compatible with modern and legacy medical devices.
How to Select the Best Veterinary Computer Equipment
When shopping for new vet clinic equipment, you must weigh all the significant factors before deciding. Beyond the obvious financial investment, the health and well-being of your patients will depend on the medical computers your staff use.
The following are some of the most important considerations you'll have to make.
Consider Your Budget
First and foremost, you'll need to allocate a budget to this purchase. After all, purchasing from a veterinary hospital equipment list is a serious investment, far more than ordering a new package of bandages.
Take into account the scope of your operations, whether it's for a single clinic or an entire group. Evaluate the anticipated demands on the new equipment and determine the desired operational lifespan of these computers.
Lastly, remember that a well-made medical-grade computer should be functional for five years or more.
Decide What Types of Equipment You Need
Now that you have a budget, you'll need to explore the available options. Consider what you'll be using these devices for. If you need a charting solution, a medical-grade tablet would be perfect.
Tablets are lightweight and easy to carry throughout the day, making them ideal for vets and nurses checking up on their animal patients and updating their charts with paperless EHRs.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a computer for operating rooms, you'll most likely want a full-sized, all-in-one medical PC. These computers are certified for near-patient use and can support the full range of surgical equipment, such as anesthesia machines or endoscopes.
Medical PCs are best used in fixed locations or attached to a mobile workstation-on-wheels that lets your staff take the PC with them as they go about their day.
Cybersecurity is another major factor to consider. The healthcare field (animal medicine included) remains a significant target for cybercriminals. Any devices you select should have robust cybersecurity features to prevent intrusion, such as Imprivata encryption, single sign-on compatibility, and more.
Choose the Right Provider
Once you know what equipment you need, the only factor remaining is who you'll buy it from. When looking for a partner to provide veterinary computer equipment, ask yourself these questions:
- How scalable are their operations? Can they provide the units you need, or will they run into supply-side issues trying to meet your demand?
- What is their technical support offering like? If something goes wrong with one of your computers, how quickly can they troubleshoot and fix the issue?
- Are their products customizable to suit your exact needs? A capable manufacturer can alter the design of their devices to support your clinic or hospital better.
Choose Cybernet's Medical-Grade Computers for Veterinary Clinics
Both two-legged and four-legged patients deserve top-notch healthcare. Guaranteeing their well-being is simple—choose reliable veterinary computer equipment from a trusted manufacturer.
At Cybernet, we manufacture medical computers perfect for human and veterinary healthcare. With medical-grade certifications and flexible design features, we can equip you with a full line of tablets, PCs, and monitors to fulfill whatever task you need.
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