Abstract
Typical hospital procurement processes do not include a formal product evaluation beyond a short trial and soliciting of user preference. Usability evaluations can be an informative aid to determine the best match for a particular healthcare institution. The ergonomics of three short-listed point of care carts were evaluated by having hospital staff use the carts in realistic scenarios and environments. The carts' maneuverability, ease of recharging the point of care device, adequacy of space (storage and workspace), adjustability, keyboard/mouse position, suitability of use in the daily practice, and size were assessed. Usability testing of the point of care carts provided many insights into their strengths and weaknesses, such as whether or not they provided enough storage space for transporting medication to the patient bedside. The results of usability evaluations could be a critical factor in deciding which products can be successfully integrated into a particular healthcare institution.
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