Tag Archives: all-in-one computers

medical tablets and fanless computers

3 of the Most Common Patient Complaints and Ways to Reduce Them

Medical Grade Computers, , ,

Patient satisfaction isn’t an easy task to handle within a hospital; people are already in places they don’t want to be, and the smallest gesture in improving a stay can travel miles for a patient’s well-being. It’s up to staff to perform those small gestures and take advantage of them for the betterment of people. Not taking advantage of those small details could result in patient complaints. Patients file complaints on a consistent basis, and rightfully so; sometimes small mistakes, unrefined processes, and archaic procedures just result in a bad experience. There are several reasons why a complaint might arise, and all of them should serve as examples on how to improve—lest the hospital suffers bad return rates, scathing online reviews—you get the idea. Here are some common patient complaints and what can be done to reduce their frequency greatly.

Let’s Communicate, Not Procrastinate!

Insufficient communication is a constant for complaints. It might be the case that a nurse forgot to notify next of kin if a patient’s medical conditions change, or maybe there isn’t enough social activity to ease someone’s mental health while they’re bedridden. Regardless, communication problems often rank within the top five for any hospital, but there are some ways to improve communication between patient and practitioner, or even among medical staff.

Medical staff can achieve higher patient satisfaction ratings by using a medical cart computer or a mounted medical computer in the patient’s room to demonstrate how a patient’s illness is affecting them. Plus, it’s likely the case throughout the hustle and bustle of daily hospital operations that communication isn’t the best between nurses and doctors. Medical tablets keep communication at a constant rate so there’s no information falling through the cracks. Nurses can receive updates with patient orders directly to a tablet while doing rounds, or can video conference with an attending physician in a remote location. All parties can stay up to date, minute by minute, so the focus can remain on getting the patient the care they need and send them away, healthier than before.

In addition to the importance of communicating test results and other pertinent medical information with patients, it is equally important for the mental well being of a patient to be able to communicate with loved ones. A medical computer mounted on a patient table can have the dual purpose of allowing a patient to video conference with family members, check social media accounts, and mitigate any feelings of isolation while admitted.

Patients Need Better Sleep

Another common complaint is a difficulty in getting a good night’s sleep. Hospitals operate on a 24/7 cycle, so ambient noise won’t be avoidable. However, there are ways to reduce noise in a patient’s room. A lot of hospitals are mounting computers in each patient room, but this presents a lot of challenges to a patient. With these devices running 24/7 components heat up and need to be cooled. The last thing a tired patient needs is for a computer fan to go off next to their bed in the middle of the night. A fanless medical computer is best for in-room devices. Why?

Computers with fans can often reach noisy levels! A computer with a fanless design provides cleaner, quieter environment to help a patient get a better night’s sleep. Fanless computers are also safer, as they don’t blow dust, germs, and other microbes through the air, which could lead to nosocomial infections.

Hurry Up and Wait to Feel Better

We all know the story—calling up to make an appointment, leaving a message, waiting for a phone call, answering a call and waiting on hold for the nurse for scheduling, getting transferred to another physician—hurry up and wait is a constant struggle for outpatients. We’ve all done it ourselves, so why would you want your patients to endure that? Would you prefer your patients to wait longer to feel better? We wouldn’t either, but waiting is a common complaint that a strong percentage of patients mark down on complaint sheets.

With the advent of telehealth, patients can access their hospital scheduling department through a web portal and send off their symptoms within a few minutes. Doctors are notified via a medical tablet that a new request for appointment is in, and then can receive symptoms, previous medical conditions, current medications, and likely diagnoses—all within a fraction of time from the “old ways.” The patient can get an earlier appointment scheduled, get into the office, see the doctor, review diagnosis and facts, and then have their prescription signed for at the point of care. And in some cases, a diagnosis or course of treatment can be prescribed without the patient ever even needing to go to the office. You’ve just saved your operations hours and reduced the wait time for your patient significantly, all because every process was handled electronically through a medical tablet. That’s technology working for you and your patients.

When addressing problems with better technology, suddenly we turn a hospital experience from a terrible necessity into something positive. The last place anyone desires to be is on a stretcher or hospital bed, but through the use of medical tablets and other devices, we might be able to put a spark in day-to-day struggles that people experience, whether in-patient or out. Get people feeling better again, quicker, and you’ll see fewer complaints, possibly more sparkling reviews, a higher attendance rate, and perhaps even better career satisfaction among the hospital staff. It’s said smiles are infectious, and we tend to agree. Contact us to learn more.

 

tough tablets

3 Problems in Customer Service Solvable by Technology

All-in-One PC, Industrial Computers, , , ,

The tech landscape has changed for the better in business. Places as common as grocery stores, bars, pizza parlors, online ordering warehouses, you name it—the computer is there, improving the business operations on a customer-by-customer basis. The newest technological craze on the horizon to improve the customer experience for online ordering is the use of the shipping drone. Automation efforts within warehouse shipping are pushing towards eventual shipping via individual drones that drop packages off at the doorstep of customers. Interested businesses in this cutting-edge technology are quoting waiting times of less than 30 minutes from product order to delivery!

We’re far off from seeing a full implementation of such technologies across the nation, but one aspect of a business that is never overlooked and that people cherish in any setting is customer service. The full umbrella of customer service can include customer experience, product pricing, waiting times for product delivery, and other factors, but the computer is there now to facilitate lengthy and error-prone processes that can influence the overall experience. Here are three ways technology solves problems many of us are familiar with when it comes to the umbrella of customer service.

Better Lead Times, Shorter Wait Times with Industrial PCs

Lead time can be considered a part of customer service, or perhaps “a service to the customer” since it’s a factor in the overall experience. It’s not the most interesting of business-related topics, but it’s one of the most desired metrics to shrink for both businesses and customers. Simply put, if a customer waits too long for delivery of an item, it’s not likely they’ll purchase from the same outlet. It’s an aspect of customer service in the whole of the corporation that is always a pain point for customers. Who likes to wait?

Lead times have been decreasing with the use of the industrial PC. Industrial computers running ERP software can track and monitor inventory levels. They can be used to predict seasonal shifts in order volume. A manufacturer can even use an HMI panel to monitor performance and maintenance schedules of individual equipment, reducing and eliminating stoppages in production. All of which adds up to short lead times. The shorter the lead time the more likely that first time customer will become a long term client.

I Didn’t Order This…

As soon as an order has been received there is a process in place to get that order to the customer as quickly as possible. An itemized invoice is printed that is handed off to a picker, who then goes through the warehouse to find the items. They are double checked, prepared for shipping and sent. But in that paper process, mistakes happen. Humans are only human after all. Send the wrong item to a customer not only adds up in costly returns at your expense, but could also lead to lost business.

Industrial tablets can help to automate this process and improve accuracy. Invoices can be stored on the tablet. With SKUs assigned to barcodes, a picker can use a tablet’s integrated barcode scanner to check items before pulling them from inventory. You can even assign different barcodes based on clothing sizes or item colors to ensure accuracy. Pick lists can even be sorted based on the most efficient path through the warehouse, meaning more orders can be processed in the same amount of time using the same amount of resources. Again, automating processes leads to more accurate orders and faster processing times, which lead to happier customers.

The Dreaded Phone Calls

Even with automation, mistakes will happen. No business is 100% perfect. When mistakes happen, customers will call in. Even in an automated shipping warehouse there needs to be the human touch to fill in the gaps sophisticated tech might leave behind. However, it’s best to be prepared with the right kind of computer to identify what went wrong in order processing.

If a company’s employees use all in one computers for their customer service department, there’s a vast set of advantages. First, these computers are manufactured with space-saving designs in mind so even in small offices where the majority of space is reserved for products, IT departments won’t need to go to the extensive trouble of planning how all computer stations might be configured. Second, they’re perfect for recording conference and customer calls for the best customer service experiences. Paired with telecommunications software, every call can be screened, addressed, and filed away for case study purposes. Finally, any customer service rep can use the computer to see where an order is in the full spectrum of the process, from order to customer satisfaction on delivery. These all in one computers have nifty touchscreen capabilities too, so it’ll add to the overall productivity of a customer service office. Plus, with their enclosed designs and higher-grade components, they’ll last a lot longer than the average computer.

They say that a customer who has had a bad experience is likely to tell 10 people about it, whereas a customer who has had a good experience is only likely to tell one or two people. Those aren’t the kind of odds worth testing. For more information on how to automate your processes you can contact us here.

patient engagement technology and medical tablets

EHR and it’s Evolution into CHR: A Critical Look at Cutting-Edge Technology in Healthcare

Medical Grade Computers, , , , , , , , ,

Epic CEO, Judy Faulker, recently expressed her view how Electronic Health Records are evolving into Comprehensive Health Records—a term that evaluates more than just a specific window of sampling an individual’s health from doctor visits. CHR is a term that may be invented as the new EHR, incorporating more data and analysis of a patient that stems from their in-clinic or hospital visits and their time outside of a medical facility too. Foraging into a new technology frontier that implies a near-constant evaluation of a person’s well-being may sound like an answer that physicians have been looking for, but anyone who is ever a patient (all of us) could be under the scrutiny of patient tracking technology that could be always on, always tracking. Yes, the benefit is physicians can understand the entire gamut of a patient’s health by seeing comprehensive snapshots of activity from day to day, but do the costs outweigh the benefits? Are we already in the pathway of the “Big Data” steamroller? Let’s take a critical look.

Are We Already Headed Down this Path?

Many individuals are already familiar with utilizing in-home tracking devices and food intake monitoring, so the “at home” concept of tracking health isn’t new. Wearable fitness trackers coupled with diet and exercise apps are near ubiquitous in society today. There are also several medical grade devices like blood sampling devices or blood pressure monitors to see how trackable vitals are measured outside of the doctor’s office and clinics. But now that CHR is becoming a reality for EHR corporations, there are implications to consider about how this data would be collected into a central repository. If CHR will incorporate the data from consumer-grade devices into an EMR system, how will this data transfer occur? Would EHR software developers have to build integrations for the hundreds of various fitness apps and wearables that are available on the consumer market.  Would we need to entrust app developers and wearable manufacturers with the responsibility of building those integrations? We could see EHR software developers create their own consumer apps and wearables, but that raises even more questions. Would software developers even want to enter the arena of app development and medical device manufacturing? And if they did, how do get a patient to willingly utilize something they may not want to?

CHR and Big Data: How Accurate is the Information?

A patient may be under the scrutiny of a doctor for monitoring their food intake for diabetes, and it’s likely a common thing some individuals may “cheat” on their diet—maybe someone once logged a dinner of chicken and vegetables when instead they indulged a large burger and fries. That second iced mocha of the day might get “forgotten” when it comes time to update their food log. The same propensity to “cheat” when recording time spent at the gym lifting weights, or doing yoga can creep in if we are entrusting the patient to log their own activity. So manual input data needs to be examined and taken lightly if it’s to be wrapped into CHR. Plus, there’s the question of accuracy of wearable devices—many aren’t as devices used in hospitals, clinics and doctors offices. How accurate is a pedometer? How accurate is a sleep tracking device you can purchase off the shelf? Can that be incorporated into a medical health profile? And furthermore, even if the comprehensive data is used for analysis for health, can that be considered an invasion of privacy?

Is the CHR Data Secure Enough?

With potentially thousands of different devices tracking different variables such as food intake, steps taken, heart rate, and other measurable factors, there’s a concern of how all that data might be transferred to EMR systems. Since hospitals have begun implementing BYOD practices among their staff, securing has become a massive point of concern. Medical grade computers are specifically designed with a number of privacy safeguards built into them to protect patient data. Now imagine the security risks if data is being transferred from millions of unsecured consumer devices. We’ve discussed at length in the past that patient medical records are even more valuable on the black market than an individual’s financial data. Now you have to consider millions of new vulnerabilities for hackers to try and exploit. So how would a transfer happen? Wireless transfer? Patient web portals? If CHR is to incorporate an unknown breadth of data, will HIPAA laws need to be rewritten to account for vulnerabilities that can’t be controlled by a healthcare facility or a doctor’s office?

CHR Data and the Implications of Insurance

Insurance companies evaluate a patient’s medical history gauge what their premiums should be. It’s a given that if someone smokes, healthcare is more expensive for them. If we are to enter a new era of healthcare data, can insurance companies utilize more comprehensive methods of evaluating someone’s health? If a patient claims that they run three times a week, and yet their pedometer shows no activity outside of walking, will that reflect on their bill? How far does the willingness go to track aspects of someone’s life? CHR is prepped to track not only how we treat ourselves, but our social lives too. Will all these medical and social effects on our well-being be reflected in insurance companies and their premiums? While the intent of CHR would be to compile the most comprehensive view of an individuals health, the information could very easily be used to create more “high risk” pools by insurance companies, and could even price some users out of the market completely.

These are just a handful of questions to ask as the encroaching concept of CHR starts to hit EMR companies. They’re evolving, perhaps for the better of our lives and health, but there are strong implications of privacy, accuracy, security, and unfortunately impact on wallets too. For now, EMR systems have not yet seen that evolution, and quite frankly they shouldn’t until these questions are answered. We’d love to hear your thoughts as well. Please comment below and let us know what you think about CHR.

 

medical grade PCs

Extending the Life of Medical Equipment with Medical Grade PCs

Medical Grade Computers, , , , , , ,

The IT challenges and needs for a healthcare facility are far different than those of a traditional enterprise. Mobility, EMR compatibility, 24/7 operability as well as the need to mitigate the transfer of germs and disease must all be factored in. But even within the healthcare space, needs can vary tremendously. Consider the differences between a hospital in a large metropolitan area vs. a hospital in a rural area. In a lot of rural areas, medical facilities don’t have the luxury of large budgets or the ability to upgrade medical equipment as regularly as a larger hospital in a more densely populated area might have. Extending the life of that machinery in a cost efficient manner is vital for these types of facilities in order to provide the very best in patient care without breaking the bank.

A customer of ours recently reached out to us to let us know how they have managed to extend the life of their mobile x-ray units by integrating a medical grade computer. Their solution turned out to be a stroke of genius, and allowed their facility to move from the analog age into the digital age.

Mobility Matters in Medical Grade Computing

Our customer employed mobile x-ray units in rural areas that needed medical grade computers for control. Consumer-grade computers wouldn’t have fit the bill—carrying around a heavily-wired computer and monitor would have been insufficient and cumbersome for medical staff, so they used medical-grade PCs with hot swappable battery functionality.  With a full 16 hours of uptime running on batteries, the staff didn’t need to connect to AC power while using their mobile x-ray medical devices with the medical grade computers. Plus, there’s no downtime with computers featuring hot swappable battery technology ensuring constant healthcare. Internet connectivity is also a concern. In rural areas, internet accessibility isn’t the best which calls for a different type of wireless capability. Many mobile computers are equipped with 3 and 4G wireless technology, so even in the most distant of places medical staff can send patient data to the hospital for review if need be.

Using Surgical Grade Monitors to Enter the Digital Age

Our customer was able to connect the surgical grade monitors to the mobile x-ray devices and get an instant x-ray result on the medical computer’s touch screen. Older technologies required large film emulsion plates that took hours to process within a dark room—that obviously isn’t a mobile solution. With an instant x-ray, our customer was able to zoom in on the patient’s affected area in question and diagnose patients. Instead of having to travel several miles to a distant hospital, wait for an x-ray, process the film, and then have a doctor review the x-rays, it’s done instantly on site so the hospital doesn’t need to purchase expensive and bulky film slates for x-rays. When patient mobility is reduced, it’s up to the medical staff to transport what’s needed in the most crucial times of patient healthcare. Our provided solution fit the needs for our customer and their patients.

Medical Devices in Healthcare IT Aren’t Cheap

Our customer needed a medical grade computer that interfaced with the mobile x-ray machines without a significant price tag. Older medical devices use a serial RS-232 port, which is a legacy port not often found on consumer-grade computers. The option to upgrade to a newer set of x-ray machines wasn’t available with average prices for them ranging well over 100 thousand. In acquiring the medical grade computers, they saved crucial business funds to focus on traveling to patients with hampered mobility.

Medical Computers That Also Meet Certifications

The medical grade computers our customer used weren’t just capable of interfacing with x-ray machines for medical staff use. The computers they purchased had a full spectrum of patient safety in mind, starting with an antimicrobial plastic that inhibited the spread and growth of microorganisms. These mobile computers with the hot swappable battery function were fanless and used internal solid state drives to prevent spreading dust and germs. They also met FDA standards for patient safety with a 60601-1 certification to protect patients from electrical and radiation-related hazards.

Online sources report that 80 rural hospitals have seen closures since 2010 and approximately 600 are suffering financially, numbers likely because patients and hospitals lack mobility. These computers helped the lives of people and kept hospital doors open. There are reasons beyond mobility, however, that prompted our customer to purchase these computers—they’re medically certified for hospital and patient room use. Consumer-grade PCs don’t measure up to the standard that these computers meet! Our customer was satisfied with their purchase of these computers with the hot swappable battery function, the instant x-ray feedback, and the medical certifications to protect patients.

 

EHR Compatibility

A Few Problems Medical Professionals Face with EHR Compatibility

Medical Grade Computers, , , , , ,

Per the Health IT Dashboard, 87 percent of hospitals in the United States started utilizing EHR software in 2015, a massive jump in a ten-year timespan from 25 percent in 2005. It’s clear use of EHR software has become the majority standard in a decade. Medical professionals stick by this method of health IT and information monitoring because it reduces error, streamlines processes, and ensures patient satisfaction. However, that doesn’t suggest the EHR software universe is snag-free. As with any software, problems can arise when a new EHR software product is released into a medical environment with a competing software product, and many sources note that a collective of medical professionals are raising concerns about one of the most pressing aspects of EHR software: interoperability. This aspect of EHR does not address the capability or functionality of the software itself, but rather data transfer between systems that run on medical monitors. It comes down to what’s called the CCD, or continuing care document.

In EHR Compatibility, the CCD is What Matters Most

The CCD, per Wikipedia, is an “XML-based markup standard intended to specify the encoding, structure, and semantics of a patient summary clinical document for exchange.” A compromised development by ASTM International and Health Level Seven International’s Clinical Document Architecure, it is encoded by EHR software as it contains a substantial amount of data including medications, allergies, problems, lab results, and patient chart data. This document is widely shared among medical computers and EHR devices. While not a complete medical record, the CCD includes just the most crucial information for effective medical care. It should be viewable via any standard web browser, but some voices lament that’s not always the case with a lot of EHR software, which leads to one of the most prevalent problems in healthcare IT…

EHR Compatibility Can be Terrible Because of Proprietary Formatting

Much like proprietary audio files or specific Apple chargers vs. Android phone chargers, not every EHR software product exports a CCD that will be read by another. At first glance, it may seem that transferring EHR between systems is just a file transfer, but how does that file transfer take place? If medical professionals bring their own devices, there are HIPAA security concerns—putting a patient’s data on a USB flash drive certainly isn’t secure. If one EHR system is web-based and another isn’t, how does an individual transfer the files? Does a physician-hosted EHR system function with a remotely hosted system or a cloud-based system? EHR compatibility problems can arise within hospitals—not just on a hospital to hospital transfer—if their IT departments decide on conflicting software environments, further causing connectivity problems. It’s a tough call between remaining secure, transferring the information from one medical monitor to another, and finding the quickest way to do so without compromising the data. Sometimes medical professionals have to print EHR documents and transcribe them to another platform, introducing human error and lengthening a typically automated process. EHR has been a wide success because of the Meaningful Use program and the HITECH Act, but medical staff still spend time bothering with menial tasks getting information from A to B. Health care companies are encouraging EHR software developers to start using open format file types instead of proprietary. There’s still a lot of room to improve, unfortunately.

EHR Compatibility Depends on the Medical Computer

Certain medical computers, while meeting FDA standards for near-patient use, aren’t compatible with all EHR systems—some medical monitors operate on a 4:3 aspect ratio, while EHR systems may utilize a 16:9 ratio to display a full gamut of patient information. A computer with an incompatible display may reject software installation or could limit the functionality of the software. Furthermore, highly advanced EHR systems require two-factor authentication, and if a system isn’t equipped with hardware to scan authentication methods, it may likely reject installation. Compatibility isn’t just a matter of speaking with other EHR software products—it’s a matter if the medical monitor in question can even support it.

A Way Out of EHR Compatibility Concern

Epic is one of the most prominent EHR systems used in the medical industry, and there’s a strong reason for it; interoperability is a key aspect of the Epic EHR system. There have been strides to see a universal healthcare data format for EHR systems, but it’s still a goal that not every company adheres to yet, even though Epic has been a key software product in that avenue. The Sequoia Project is an organization that advocates for nationwide health information exchange, and Carequality is a project within Sequoia designed to address interoperability between all parties in a healthcare IT network—addressing policy and technical agreements for the exchange of data. As for now, EHR compatibility can be addressed by ensuring all computers running a specific EHR—whichever it may be—remain in the same local “network.” Having a unified system with similar hardware cuts down on training time and bypasses any compatibility problems. Ensuring that the computers that run the EHR software are certified for that software is a must too—purchasing a computer deployment that ultimately doesn’t work with a given EHR system is wasted money. If your corporation goes with Epic for your EHR solution, keep in mind that many of our CyberMed computers are Epic and Cerner certified.

Hopefully in the near future we’ll see a unified, open format data file shareable among all EHR systems so we can focus on patient health instead of the technology supporting it. This unified system will take effort from several roles—the government, EHR providers, payers, and patients too. Some medical professionals argue that EHR developers must have proper incentives to cater to a unified system; it is a competitive market, after all.

 

space saving computers help the enterprise market

4 Reasons Why All-in-One Space Saving Computers are Best for the Enterprise Setting

All-in-One PC, , , , ,

The enterprise setting is not easily defined; multiple dictionaries define the enterprise as merely a business organization, a particular project, a systematic, purposeful activity, or other generic definitions. That doesn’t define how an enterprise functions. It may function as a handful of employees in a small office, or perhaps a few thousand employees in a tower block setting. Regardless, an enterprise will always need to function under certain constraints, and computer arrangement must fit within those constraints. Sometimes an enterprise must use all in one PCs for a variety of reasons. Here’s four examples of what we mean when we claim these space saving computers are best for the enterprise setting.

Space Saving Computers Get Rid of the Rat’s Nests

When a series of computers are deployed in an enterprise setting, IT professionals must use careful consideration of all the peripherals and devices a system might be integrated with. Think of all the cables one computer might need—a desktop computer needs main power, monitor connectivity and power, an ethernet cable out to a router, a USB keyboard, USB mouse, speaker power and connectivity, and other connections. Gather a series of computers in this fashion, and suddenly the cable management task turns into a fiasco! If eight computers are deployed into a small office or cubicle environment, how will these cables be routed? Are there safety concerns? The more wires an IT team has to consider in computer deployment, the longer it may take to get to full production status—which means more money. Time and money constraints, especially early in setting up an enterprise, are crucial factors for a business whether the business is migrating to a new office or setting up initial infrastructure.

A huge benefit to all in one PCs is that they have minimal wires. Typically these computers are bundled with wireless mice and keyboards, so the “rat’s nest” factor is a small concern. Wireless network cards are often built-in as well, so instead of planning out an ethernet connectivity setup, the all in one PCs can connect directly to a wireless router to reduce cable management efforts. At the very least, a space saving computer needs just one cable—for power!

Space Saving Computers Help with Hardware Needs

If an IT team purchases a series of desktop computers, does that fit the intended use? It’s a no-brainer all computers need monitors, and all in one PCs have that necessity taken care of. A conference computer might need a webcam to hold weekly meetings with different offices. Perhaps all computers will need webcams to hold online conferences to discuss key business points—and so which webcam does a business acquire, and for how many computers? Perhaps a particular webcam won’t work with a certain model computer, easily complicating implementation. To add, sometimes desks aren’t suitable for specific work areas, necessitating a different approach to implementing a computer. So how does one solve all these problems?

Cybernet’s all in one PCs are uniform in design, so corporations can deploy them with ease. Not enough desk space for a computer? Mount the space saving computer on a VESA mount and use the touch screen capability! Need to move a computer with a webcam to a different workstation? All enterprise computers are equipped with webcams. All in one PCs take care of the guesswork of which computers might need what peripherals, providing a solution in a complete package.

Ease of Project Deployment and Imaging

Will all computers be running engineering software? If that’s the case, it’s best to order a series of all in one PCs as a deployment project to ensure everyone has identical hardware and software. Migrating old computers with a group of newly deployed computers could turn into a compatibility nightmare—we shudder at mixing Windows XP with Windows 10, or a PC with an Apple computer. Ensuring identical hardware and software will reduce compatibility problems, increase office synergy, and ensure fewer problems for IT to handle down the road. Plus, one computer can be configured a specific way to operate for business use and that configuration can be “cloned” to install on all remaining machines, saving IT more time and money. Consider a small office—30 people—each with their own computer. Every crucial component in that small office has a risk of breaking down and halting production for at least one employee. Purchasing a series of identical all in one PCs is the pathway to getting an individual employee up and running quickly. With drive imaging, the space saving computer can be immediately replaced, turning downtime into virtually no time and getting employees back to work. Also, with the built-in battery that some models carry, employees can save their work in the event of a power failure.

Space Saving Computers Have a Wider Market

IT professionals often shop for computers that fit specific jobs—worsening the compatibility aspect. What’s more is some desktop computers can cost thousands more than basic desktops based on the individual needs of employees. At Cybernet, each space saving computer has a wider range of capability than their desktop brethren; an engineer can benefit from using a space saving computer just as much as a graphic designer can. The touch screen technology can be used as a designer’s drawing space or an industrial worker’s touch panel PC, combining two marketable applications into one PC solution. A space saving computer can be connected to a large television and turned into a conference room PC, complete with webcam and a wireless keyboard and mouse set. Cybernet’s all in one PCs fit more specific jobs because of their increased functionality and capability across markets.

The versatility of Cybernet’s all in one PCs, like the iOne H24, make them perfect for an enterprise setting by reducing clutter, easing deployment if a technical problem arises, broadening the applicable market for each workstation, and increasing office synergy by ensuring compatibility between stations.

More With Less: Cut Back On Cost Using Technology

All-in-One PC, , ,

Organizations see the wisdom in deploying technology that allows them to do more with less. Forging an IT strategy that helps you cut back on cost using technology does not have to be a time-consuming endeavor. In many cases, awareness about the available and emerging technologies helps businesses manage their IT budget efficiently and gain a competitive edge.

A study by Accenture estimates that IT spending is 1%-15% of total corporate spending, and suggests the steps to minimize it:

  • shift the focus from short- to long-term goals
  • coordinate goals throughout the organization
  • optimize for efficiency
  • future-proof IT investment
  • drive IT-enabled business value

With that in mind, let us look at the ways technology can help you cut back on cost and improve your bottom line, long-term.

Energy Efficiency

Unregulated energy consumption is wasted money. Managing power consumption across a distributed infrastructure is a challenge. As you acquire new equipment, make sure to go for Energy Star-certified computers. These have extensive power management capabilities backed by automation and remote management. Deploying Energy Star equipment and power management tools with ample customization and automation features allows organizations to cut back on power consumption.

Energy efficiency goes beyond power management. For example, powered carts are known to have issues with batteries – they often fail and require frequent replacement. The batteries in BYOD tablets and smartphones do not last the full shift, requiring untimely recharging, which leads to the loss of productivity. This aspect is seldom accounted for when the IT spending is calculated. However, if you calculate the cost of downtime due to the lacking batteries in your cable-less devices such as powered carts, tablets, laptops and smartphones, you can bet the price is high.

Basing acquisition decisions solely on the initial purchase price of a computer is a short-sighted strategy. If calculated correctly, the costs of such decisions outweigh the initial gain. So, when assessing potential acquisitions, spend due diligence researching the battery capacity, durability, lifespan, and certifications.

With Windows business tablets and all-in-one computers with internal batteries, energy efficiency and uptime rely on several cornerstones:

  • certified according to industry standards, industrial-grade batteries with a long lifecycle
  • reliable uptime
  • hot-swap feature with the second set of batteries and charging station
  • proven track record of low failure rate

Cable-Free Operations

Accommodating the energy needs of new equipment is expensive if you need to create additional power outlets. If some of your operations rely on mobile solutions, self-powered all-in-one computers offer the flexibility and feasibility you need. As the charging station can be positioned near any power outlet, your computers stay mobile and reliable.

More so, with our revolutionary AIO computer that powers itself and peripherals – printers, barcode scanners, and others. You no longer need a nearby power outlet or a bulky UPS, as the computer powers itself and peripherals.

Device Convergence

Converging multiple devices into one has unprecedented savings potential. All-in-one business or industrial computers and business tablets now integrate peripherals, which have been external traditionally. The customization is key, so you can choose the configuration you require. Embed barcode scanner, RFID reader, Imprivata SSO, Smart Card CAC Reader and enjoy the durability of industrial grade build.

Improve Connectivity of Remote Workers, Control Data Plans

Business tablets are not locked to any Internet or phone service provider, so you can use your current plan, and manage costs accordingly. Irrespective of whether you use GSM or CDMA, 3G or 4G, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, your field workers will be connected; your data plan – controlled.

Future-Proofing

Implement systems and devices that can grow with you. Opt for computers that offer:

a) advanced customization options to accommodate your current needs,
b) extensive upgradeability to future-proof your investment

For example, many computers and most laptops in use at healthcare organizations required replacement because they could not handle the operational load of EHR software.

If you rely on resource-hungry applications, your computers and tablets must be able to accommodate them now and in future. You must be able to add memory and expand storage.

If you rely on visually intensive applications, it makes sense to opt for 4K UHD all-in-ones instead of HDTV monitors. The image processing applications and capturing devices are capable of working with increasingly higher resolutions, so limiting that potential to already dated technology now means you will have to buy newer monitors tomorrow when everyone else is already running 4K.

Safeguard Against Liabilities

In most industries, regulations governing employee/patient safety and data security lead to significant liabilities in fines, audits, license suspension or revocation. Bad publicity adds to the cost count associated with data breaches or safety-related accidents.

On the safety front, devices that adhere to industry standards and come with corresponding certifications do the job. Be it electric, radiation safety, or antimicrobial safety, waterproof IP protection, rugged MIL-STD build, and components – depending on your environment you must choose the corresponding hardware. Consumer-grade computers and BYOD might seem like an attractive proposition, but they are not made to work 24/7. They have a high fail rate when used in resource-hungry industrial, healthcare or business environments.

Protect Your Devices and Data

On the data protection front, you can protect your physical and digital assets with advanced authentication, timely updates, patches, remote administration, and troubleshooting.

The keyword is remote. With the current shortage of skilled IT and cybersecurity pros, you need to equip them with tools and functionality that make them productive. Remote administration and maintenance of business computers and tablets reduce downtime, service costs, and pressure on the IT staff. Faster and better service translates into lower costs (and satisfied users).

Data leaks and privacy breaches are costly and damage brand reputation. Cybersecurity is considered an expensive area, but it is not if you follow best practices, and if your hardware allows it. For example, Windows-powered business tablets or all-in-one computers allow organizations to:

  • manage devices remotely – patch, update, troubleshoot, locate, wipe
  • enable advanced authentication – native Windows + RFID Imprivata SSO, Smart Card or CAC Reader, biometric reader/fingerprint scanner
  • encrypt the hard drive
  • use end-to-end data encryption
  • Windows business tablets let you encrypt data on external hard drives
  • customize hardware and OS features – disk imaging, disabling app store, webcam, or microphone
  • whitelist and blacklist apps and connections, disable access to public WiFi, deploy corporate VPN and more.

Save on Software, OS Licenses

Business tablets and all-in-one computers provide compatibility with your professional software and hardware. They run on Windows or Linux, so can accommodate the needs of any professional software, and you can use the already purchased licenses. You can order the free disk imaging and avoid time-consuming deployment, as the bloatware gets removed.

Additionally, Windows and Linux have the world’s largest pool of free, open-source software, which becomes increasingly popular among savvy business users due to frequent updates and community audits, which mean functionality and security – at no cost.

Compatibility with Legacy Hardware

On the hardware level, opt for maximum compatibility with legacy systems. Compatibility comes through the availability of serial ports you can customize, and computers’ and tablets’ ability to interface with HMI, MMI and automation processes.

Some organizations have successfully integrated their legacy equipment into modern systems with our all-in-one PCs and extended the lifecycle of the otherwise dated hardware.

Regain Data Visibility, Purge Obsolete and Control Vital Data

Recent research indicates that more than 50% of corporate data is dark data. It means organizations do not know what they store, where, if that data is protected or has value. Some of the dark data has value; some is obsolete or redundant. Yet, organizations spend substantial storage and maintenance budgets on servicing the data nobody has accessed in three years.

Regaining data visibility is important not only from the cost but also from the compliance perspective. As data protection regulations become more stringent (think GDPR), companies will face liabilities for failing to manage employee, customer and partner data properly.

Data visibility is only possible through corporate control of devices and software used by employees. BYOD does not offer feasible ways of streamlining corporate control and data visibility. Corporate-owned computers and tablets do.

Contact Cybernet today to learn more about how business grade all-in-one computers and tablets help organizations cut costs.

Benefits of Power-over-Ethernet Computers in Healthcare Settings

General News, Medical Grade Computers, , , , ,

A typical healthcare environment is a complex system of devices, networks and people working in-sync, but modern hospitals are increasingly pressed to find cost-saving solutions. Energy efficiency is one of the focal points in health care budgeting.  Reducing energy consumption is a priority, but so is digitization and patient satisfaction. The latter two are direct contributors to regulatory compliance and reimbursement. One of the technologies that help hospitals address the issue of adopting high performance, modern IT solutions, digitize and cut costs and energy use at the same time is Power over Ethernet.

Power over Ethernet, PoE, is a set of networking standards. It enables a four-wire Ethernet network cabling to provide electrical power and data to a device. IP phones, IP surveillance cameras, and Wi-Fi access points are widespread applications of PoE.

Energy Efficiency

One of the key benefits of PoE-enabled computers is the long-term cost saving effect they have on the power consumption. A typical All-in-One PC that is frequently found in POC wall-mount kiosks in hospitals consumes 65+ watts. A PoE-enabled computer consumes less than 30 watts. That is 50% less than a standard AIO machine. When you calculate the savings an entire facility can generate, the advantage becomes apparent.

More to the point of energy efficiency, PoE-enabled computers are turned off completely when they are off, i.e. no adapters or switches remain powered on, passively consuming energy when the device is not in use.

Installation & Scalability

PoE, unlike USB or Firewire, allows much longer cable lengths. If USB or Firewire allow up to 5 meters/15 feet, PoE supports up to 100 meters or ~300 feet cable length. The advantage here is the ability to mount a PoE-enabled device in places where conventionally-powered devices can’t fit due to cable length restrictions, or where electric outlets are hard to reach or add.

Depending on the Ethernet cabling, PoE can support a higher wattage of up to 25.5 watts per device, allowing the devices to meet their power requirements.

Introducing new equipment is expensive and time-consuming due to how challenging it can be to adjust the existing architecture. Scalability of PoE systems is much greater than that of the conventional systems and allows for a simpler and more effective installation and distribution of network connections on the network.

It is cheaper and simpler to deploy Ethernet cable data points than to mount additional AC outlets, as a typical electrical installation of a single device is $200-$750 on average.

There is less need for additional circuit breakers, transient, harmonics and surge filters and maintenance for Power-over-Ethernet devices. There is a variety of manufacturers of network switches with PoE+ support, so local network administrators can handle the installation, add mid-span injectors between a non-PoE switch and PoE network devices. The majority of managed PoE injectors and switches allow the admin to monitor power consumption or recycle it to individual ports.

Flexibility

Flexibility and ergonomics are critical for many settings. PoE-enabled computers are not tethered to an electrical outlet, so can be located where they are needed most. Relocating a PoE-enabled computer is equally easy.

Standardization

Standardization is another benefit of PoE. Since PoE is standards-based, interoperability across brands is guaranteed. Another aspect of standardization is consolidating the fleet of devices on a standard network. This is equally important for hospitals and industrial environments alike when a single, secure network infrastructure facilitates deployment, maintenance, and control of a large fleet of devices. This enables greater reliability, manageability and translates into seamless collaboration and improved quality of service across a facility.

Reliability

PoE-enabled computers provide greater reliability, as power and data come from a central, universally-compatible source instead of being dependent on a mix of distributed wall adapters. Such systems enable seamless device control, so when the need arises you can reset or disable a device remotely.

Safety and Uptime

Safety of PoE computers is another key advantage, as PoE delivery is intelligent and protects the network equipment from incorrect installation, under powering or overload. Such systems are backed-up by an uninterruptible power supply, which means your computers are up and running 24/7, irrespective of the power outages. A single, central UPS eliminates the need for an individual UPS per each device so that the fleet of devices remains operational.

Data Protection

Security and privacy of EHR systems are a serious consideration. Protecting EHRs from unauthorized access is an important part of HIPAA compliance for hospitals. Again, PoE computers have an advantage, as they have a network switch controlled remotely. Since there is only one power input source, PoE computers can be turned on only if the network permissions are correct. The administrator can turn on or shut down individual computers or systems remotely via Wan or LAN, adding another layer of protection, and preventing unauthorized access.

PoE computers that come with an integrated barcode scanner, RFID reader, biometric reader, CAC or Smart Card reader make use of advanced authentication methods that restrict the access to confidential information to authorized personnel only.

More so, the network can be configured to monitor and record where and when PoE computers are used. A detailed log of device usage creates a wealth of actionable data that can be used to boost security.

The optimal PoE computer is Windows-based, though, because Win OS offers the most of what modern-day encryption and privacy filter technologies can provide. It is highly recommended to encrypt the data end-to-end, at rest and in transit, in the cloud and locally, as well as on external carriers.

Performance Requirements

Power-over-Ethernet computers operating in healthcare facilities must provide high performance, HD video, and a powerful graphics processing card. EHR systems are demanding, so the machines must be powerful enough to run them beside the patient infotainment systems.

Ergonomics matters. Compact size, minimum footprint and wire clutter, flexible mounting options must be backed by an all-in-one build that incorporates all discreet parts of high quality and 24/7 reliability for 5+ years. Thus, the components must be MIL-STD certified. The collateral effect of a minimized wiring and MIL-STD certifications is the increased patient safety, as there are no wires to trip over, and electrical or radiation hazards are addressed.

In order to address the issue of nosocomial infections and make PoE computers suitable for near-patient use, these computers must have an antimicrobial casing, easy to disinfect (do not confuse with simple cleaning).

With all considerations addressed, a PoE computer becomes a cost-effective enabler of modern hospitals’ transition to digitization, EHRs, greater patient satisfaction, safety, security and compliance. Significant installation, deployment, maintenance and energy savings paired with a low failure rate of less that 2% make the TCO of a Power over Ethernet medical PC a deal breaker.

Responding To Budget Cuts In The Healthcare Industry Through Technology That Serves A Dual Purpose

All-in-One PC, General News, Medical Grade Computers, , , ,

The financial climate in the US healthcare is currently termed as “an acute funding crisis.” With severe budget cuts in hospital payments, the healthcare system is under a great pressure. On the one hand, the Affordable Care Act urges facilities to adopt healthcare IT such as EMRs and increase the digitization of the workflow. Medicare & Medicaid are shifting from fee-for-service to value-based incentives rewarding cost-effective patient care and high quality. On the other hand, the budget cuts aren’t helping hospitals make the necessary investment in healthcare IT. Hospitals are seeking ways to reduce spending, comply with the regulations and provide better healthcare at the same time.

Science and technology are key enablers in finding ways of improving the quality and efficiency of care and reducing cost. The effective use of technology helps hospitals tackle the budgeting challenge with the all-in-one, multi-purpose devices. Traditional, consumer computers and laptops are giving way to medical all-in-ones while the advent of mobile technologies sees a wide adoption of medical mobile devices.

Installation

Medical all-in-one PCs are transformers of sorts, so no wonder healthcare facilities are solving the problem of space constraints through ergonomic solutions. A computer that has been designed for medical use can be mounted on a wall, on a cart, on the desktop, or at the patient bedside, in operating rooms, intensive care units. Standard VESA holes allow for the easy installation in most hospital areas in a simple, affordable manner.

Deployment

Hardware providers are looking to cater increasingly customizable solutions. Healthcare facilities can order no cost disk imaging, so their computers are shipped with their operating system of choice complete with their enterprise license. This also means the computers come with zero bloatware and the complete productivity suite already installed. It significantly reduces the strain on the overloaded hospital IT staff, reducing the time and cost of the deployment of new devices.

Integration, Interoperability

A medical all-in-one computer or tablet gets naturally integrated into the existing ecosystem of a healthcare facility, further cutting the deployment costs. For example, integration with EMR charting systems such as EPIC, eClinical, Cerner, Meditech and Nextgen, or anesthesia applications does not require additional resources.

A seamless integration also suggests the device’s compatibility with legacy hardware. Support for legacy equipment brings a unified, connected data flow to a medical computer, and when used in conjunction with cloud sync, it provides the personnel with a timely access to critical information about all episodes of care and relevant tests, conditions and reading from the legacy equipment.

Staff Training

It is one thing when decision-makers introduce new technology with the aim to cut a facility’s spending, but it is a different story when the end user on the front line has to make that device work. From that perspective, Windows-based all-in-one computers and tablets require a minimum investment of time or funds. The touchscreen technology has been in the arena for quite a while now, and healthcare workers have been using their personal devices for work during the past few years now (BYOD). Windows-based touchscreens in all-in-one computers and tablets are easy-to-use. They represent the touch-based variant of their traditional desktop computers, so the only aspect requiring additional instructions would be the use of integrated peripherals and biometric authentication.

Serving Multiple Purposes & Streamlining Workflow

Big Data

The use of data in and of itself is a great enabler of healthcare modernization through:

  • boosting medical automation
  • meaningful use of EHR
  • remote patient vitals monitoring
  • reducing errors and avoidable overuse such as duplicate tests
  • advancing telemedicine and as a result reducing readmissions and preventable admissions
  • providing connectivity and timely access to data

Security, Tracking, Automating

The technology that serves multiple purposes integrates a few more cost effective solutions:

  • integrated biometric readers/fingerprint scanners that safeguard sensitive records
  • integrated RFID reader for enhanced patient and inventory tracking
  • integrated CAC/ smart card reader for secure user authentication
  • integrated Barcode reader for a multitude of applications

While biometric readers and smart cards serve the purpose of secure user authentication, RFID and barcode technology has a significantly wider adoption in healthcare – from medication tracking to patient identification, anti-abduction and anti-elopement, counterfeit programs and much more.

Mobility, Patient Monitoring and Involvement

Medical mobile tablets push the boundaries even further. Because they are rugged, they are mounted in ambulance vehicles and used on the go by the first responders. In hospitals, they empower doctors and nurses via a meaningful use of EHR and patient vitals tracking. A medical tablet is widely used by doctors for patient tracking and EMR, and by patients for infotainment, which has proved to increase patient satisfaction significantly.

Through the use of HELP and Apache applications and an integrated barcode scanner in medical mobile tablets, doctors reduce prescription and diagnostic errors, enhance medication prescription and dispensing, as well as streamline prescription issuing.

Fail Rate, Cost of Ownership, Lifespan

The true ROI of healthcare IT is best seen in the long-term perspective, the so-called cumulative impact or “productivity paradox of IT.” Medical computers and tablets that are at par with the industry requirements have a lifespan significantly longer than that of the consumer counterparts used in healthcare.

The increased lifespan is possible due to the low fail rates of medical all-in-ones and tablets, less than 2%. Quality, military-grade components ensure the durability and dependable MTBF of the discreet parts. In some cases, a fanless build adds even more to the equation by eliminating moving parts and deploying a passive cooling system.

Hence, the low fail rate and long lifespan of medical all-in-ones reduce maintenance, repair and replacements costs otherwise inevitable with consumer-grade computers.

Compliance, Liabilities

HIPAA, HITECH, IDC et al. add more strain on the hospitals’ budgets – compliance and liabilities stemming from non-compliance. Data protection and prevention of nosocomial infections are high on the agenda for healthcare facilities. Failure to deploy adequate means of data protection such as encryption and proper user authentication may result in significant fines. Likewise, high rates of hospital-acquired infections account for the bigger part of hospital readmissions. Not to mention how they affect the patient satisfaction.

Medical computers and tablets now address both of these nagging issues. Data security – through integrated biometric or CAC readers, nosocomial infections – through antimicrobial housing and touchscreen.

Even though the cost of delivering quality healthcare is spiraling, the effective use of ergonomic technology that serves multiple purposes helps hospitals reduce costs in both short- and long-term perspective.

Touchscreen Computers: Where Are They Headed?

All-in-One PC, , ,

Touchscreens are to present day computing what Google has been to the internet as we know it today. On the face of it, a touchscreen may be seen as a cosmetic overlay on a fully functional system, but fact is – no tablet or smartphone is accepted as modern without a touchscreen as its user interface. Touchscreen computers constitute the present, and in all probability the future, of the computing experience.

In the world of enterprise grade computers, user interface is more than just the look and feel of a device, playing a vital role in its usability and efficiency as well. For instance, high performance industrial PCs and tablets are used extensively in business scenarios, where they handle processes at every tier of the system. They are also used by medical personnel handling challenging tasks and critical situations. The chief function of these PCs in both cases is to reduce the time and effort that would be required to conduct the same tasks manually. As such, user interface is integral to how employees and personnel respond to their PCs, making touchscreen computers the clear choice.

An intuitive interface, however, is not the only factor responsible for making touchscreen computers the success that they currently are in industrial setups and the business world. Of course, by eliminating the need for add-ons such as buttons, pointing devices and other peripherals, they make for simpler operation than a legacy machine would have allowed in the past.

But an associated benefit of this elimination of clutter is the fact that touchscreen computers have a smaller footprint than legacy machines. This opens up endless possibilities for them to be used as embedded devices in complex machinery. They can act as the ‘brain’ of an MRI scanner, for instance, serve as the control device in a medical emergency vehicle, or greatly reduce the space requirements of a cash counter in a retail outlet.

The minimal algorithm of the touchscreen technology brings a number of cost benefits to an organization. Besides reducing the time and cost of training personnel to use these computers, it also minimizes the cost of upgrading. Touchscreen computers are software centric – hardware being limited to processing gear and a screen. As such, any new functions and updates can be added to these computers, provided the configuration supports them.

In a medical setting, for example, this attribute has immense value. Thanks to touchscreen technology, hospital beds, emergency vehicles and procedure rooms can be fitted out with standard medical tablets, needing just the occasional software upgrade. Most of these tablets today run on Android, an OS that has evolved hand-in-hand with touch technology. Android programs and applications assume touchscreen to be a device’s default interface, thus adding to the ease with which it can be integrated into an organizational setup – including medical, business, industrial and retail.

Touchscreen computers have already placed information at our fingertips – literally. The stage is now set for more sophisticated developments wherein intuitive, intelligent operation is a given. Capacitive touchscreens are already becoming mainstream, allowing devices to identify different operators and track their usage sessions. Upon perfecting the trifecta of accessibility, adaptability and security, touchscreen computers may very well be destined to become the heart and soul of businesses and medical establishments.