How to Choose the Right Medication Cart for Your Facility

Providing efficient care is often an uphill task, especially in extended care facilities. With most physicians seeing between 11 and 20 patients per day, your facility needs to run at its peak 24/7. That means your staff, including nurses, lab technicians, and physicians, needs the right tools to do their job efficiently.

That’s where medication carts come in.

Medication carts provide nurses and doctors with a well-equipped, mobile workstation. The right med carts make it easy for your staff to deliver the care needed, whether it’s a routine procedure or an emergency.

Medication carts come in different shapes and sizes. Each type of cart is designed with a specific purpose in mind. At Total Pharmacy Supply (TPS), we supply a wide range of medication carts to hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. It’s easy to overlook the details when buying medication carts for your facility. We have seen it happen more often than you think.

So, how do you choose the right medication cart for your facility?

Let’s find out.

What Are Different Types of Medication Carts

Whether you need medication carts for hospitals or long-term care facilities, you will have plenty of choices. Here are six basic types of medication carts that you should know about.

1. Anesthesia Carts
These medication carts are designed for anesthesiologists, which means they are a must in operating rooms. The Harloff medication carts we supply are one of the best anesthesia carts on the market. They are fully customizable.
2. Pediatric Carts
These med carts are similar to emergency carts but have more color coding like the pediatrics carts TPS supplies. These carts have secure cabinets, drawers, and provisions for IV poles, among other things. You can customize your pediatrics carts based on your patient care needs.
3. Infection Control Carts
Infections are common in healthcare facilities. According to the CDC, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection on any given day. It’s possible to prevent these infections with proper care, which includes using infection control carts. At TPS, we supply infection control carts with a removable antimicrobial top, easily accessible PPE storage, and other customizations. They are highly effective in infection control.
4. Long-Term Medication Carts
As the name suggests, these medication carts are excellent for long-term care facilities. They are durable and stylish carts that come in different colors and sizes. The standard features include secure locks, ample storage, drawer liners with dividers, pre-drilled EMR/EHR, and a premium no-spill top. And with a five-year hassle-free warranty, these carts are built to last.
5. Emergency Crash Carts
Emergency crash carts come with lifesaving equipment and medications. Generally, these carts have IV poles, a defibrillator, oxygen tank holders, a CPR board, a locking sharps container, and necessary medications.
6. Mobile Lab Islands
These carts are essentially mini-labs on wheels. You can reconfigure them as needed. They are an excellent choice for work areas that are constantly changing.

Understand Your Facility’s Needs

The most critical step in choosing the right med carts is understanding your facility’s needs. It involves evaluating:

1. Size and Layout of Your Facility
This is the most obvious consideration. Smaller facilities usually need compact carts as they are easy to move through narrow spaces. On the other hand, extended facilities, like hospitals and long-term care homes, might benefit from carts with ample storage and features.
2. Patient and Staff Needs
Consider patient and staff needs when ordering your next batch of med carts. For example, pediatric facilities will need pediatric carts. They have storage for child-specific medications and tools. In long-term care facilities, nurses may need mobile lab islands to collect and process blood or urine samples then and there. Talk to your staff to understand their needs.
3. Workflow Considerations
Think about how your facility operates. For example, if your hospital has an emergency room, it will benefit from the latest and well-equipped emergency med carts. Similarly, choosing the carts that align with your workflow will reduce the time your staff spends stocking them up. It helps boost overall patient care.
4. Space Constraints and Accessibility
Another factor you need to consider is accessibility. How accessible are the patient rooms in your facility? Do you need to navigate through narrow passages and doors? Be sure to choose the med carts that can help your staff reach desired areas quickly and efficiently. For instance, slim medication carts are often advantageous in tight spaces.
5. Current and Future Inventory Needs
Your medical facility won’t be the same after a few years. It may grow or might need new patient care protocols. Choose med carts you can customize to meet your changing patient care needs. This will provide greater flexibility and also save money.
6. Budget
Whether you need medication carts for large hospitals or small clinics, budget is something you must pay attention to. Healthcare is getting more expensive by the day. Investing in high-quality, easy-to-customize carts today can help you save money in the long run. Remember, med carts are a long-term investment. So, weigh the overall costs against the benefits they offer.

Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a Medication Cart

The next step in choosing the right med carts requires you to consider a few key features. They include:

1. Security:
Security is non-negotiable when handling medications. Medication carts need to have lockable doors, drawers, and containers. Most modern carts offer digital locks, keypads, or biometric scanners. Digital accessibility options have one distinct advantage – they allow you to track who accessed a cart and when. This keeps medication safe from unauthorized access. It also helps comply with safety protocols set by DEA and other federal or state regulatory agencies.
2. Capacity and Organization:
Choose medication carts that meet your capacity and organizational needs. Look for carts with adjustable drawers and modular storage. You can customize these carts to fit your medication management needs. Effective organization improves workflow and reduces the risk of errors.
3. Mobility and Maneuverability:
Med carts come with different wheels. Select carts with high-quality, smooth-rolling wheels suitable for your facility’s flooring. Your staff should be able to move the carts effortlessly from one end of the facility to another if needed. Also, the carts should seamlessly fit through rooms, hallways, doors, and lifts in your facility.
4. Durability and Maintenance:
US hospitals spend around $16 billion each year on medical equipment maintenance and repair. This cost has been increasing yearly by an average of 3.5% in recent years. Invest in durable, high-quality medication carts to keep these costs under control. For example, look for carts with surfaces that are easy to clean and withstand daily use. These simple considerations can go a long way in reducing your overall maintenance costs.
5. Technology Integration:
Your facility will already have electronic documentation, barcoding, and password-protected access, among other things. Choose med carts that you can easily integrate into your existing tech ecosystem. This can significantly boost patient safety, reduce errors, and make your staff more productive.

Things to Consider Before Your Final Decision

Choosing the right medication carts is a big decision. Before you place your order, be sure to consider the following points. Think of them as the final four checkboxes on your list.

1. Review Your Options:
First, review all your options. While doing this, look beyond just the price. Look at the features, durability, adaptability, and user reviews. Also, check how each type of medication cart aligns with your needs, like patient care, staff productivity, and security. One more thing you need to consider is warranties and after-sales support. Go with the option that best fits these benchmarks.
2. Look for Customization:
Customization allows you to use med carts for as long as possible. You can tweak them to suit specific patient care and medication needs. Select carts with modular drawers, adjustable shelving, or integrated technology features. Just be sure these customizations can meet your current and future needs.
3. Think Long-Term:
Always think long-term when it comes to medication carts. Choose options that offer flexibility and scalability in the long run. Thinking long-term will prevent the need for costly replacements down the line.
4. Choose the Right Supplier:
In the end, it comes down to choosing a reliable supplier like Total Pharmacy Supply. TPS has built its reputation as a supplier with quality products, excellent customer service, and robust after-sales support. We live by a simple mantra – we win if you win. So, every product we sell, including medication carts, provides quality, consistency, and reliability.

Conclusion

Selecting the right medication carts is easier said than done. It’s a decision that can make or break your facility’s operations and patient care. You will need to consider several key factors, ranging from the size and layout of your facility to technology integration. Also, thinking long-term and partnering with the right supplier can help you find the necessary solutions.

As a reliable supplier, Total Pharmacy Supply is here to help you. We are a one-stop shop for all your pharmacy and healthcare supply needs, including medication carts. Start browsing our inventory or call (800) 878-2822 now.