There’s no question the vital role healthcare workers played in combating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – and technology was essential in helping them do it. The rapid adoption of digital tech like tablets on an unprecedented scale allowed nurses and practitioners to provide care quickly, minimising health risks while maximising responsiveness at a time of exhaustion.

While the World Health Organisation recently declared that the end of the pandemic is in sight, the healthcare sector is now facing another troubling challenge: hospitals, clinics, and aged care facilities are struggling with widespread staffing shortages as burnout and turnover accelerate. With the digital transformation of healthcare, careful attention should be paid to optimising shared device management to continue to meet care standards while easing the burden on an already stressed workforce.

Digital Technology in Healthcare

The use of portable digital technology in the health sector isn’t new, but it was the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed it to new heights. As patient numbers surged in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the world, portable tech quickly became an essential part of care. Tablets replaced clipboards and connected patients to their families, while management apps tracked crucial health data including medications.

Healthcare services in Victoria, which rapidly pivoted to using virtual care tools, saw positive increases in efficiency and patient experience according to one study, while in New South Wales, the Ministry of Health bought thousands of iPad devices to monitor patients remotely.

As facilities now look to refine their digital strategies for the post-pandemic age, they also have to contend with Australian healthcare workers experiencing a “pandemic-fuelled burnout” severely impacting an ongoing skills shortage. The nursing workforce is projected to face a shortage of up to 123,000 nurses by 2030, putting the future of delivering quality healthcare at risk.

A Better Way to Manage Devices in Hospitals, Clinics and Nursing Homes

One way to ease the burden on professional caregivers is to streamline the charging and deployment of portable tablets. Compatible with iPads and tablets, PC Locs’ Charging Stations are designed for fast-paced and shift worker environments like hospitals and aged care facilities.

PC Locs’ Putnam Charging Stations, for example, can charge, story, and secure 8 or 16 iPad and Tablet devices. The stations feature external LED lights that reveal the charging status of devices inside. They come pre-wired with neatly organised cables, allowing for easy device retrieval. Streamlining workflow reduces friction during shift rotations, and the integrated combination lock gives the entire nursing team access to devices charging inside. Placed at nursing stations and check-in desks, the plug-and-play charging stations are ideal for shared devices that need to be charged and accessible at all times.

With compatibility as a key feature, PC Locs’ iQ 10 Charging Station can be used with the latest USB-C devices, efficiently charging 10 devices at once with powerful PD charging technology that lessens turnaround time for busy hospital staff. The iQ 10 Charging Station’s simplified design also means it can be mounted to any wall or placed on a counter while taking up minimal space.

As technology continues to be critical to modern care, ensuring its ease of use in fatigued and short-staffed medical settings is essential to the future well-being of both staff and patients.

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