Category: Senior Care

1. Modular Drawer Dividers

It’s no secret, organization is the key to success for any healthcare facility, but for an operator looking to make sure their staff members have the proper tools for storing medicines and medical supplies, having drawer dividers is essential. These dividers break up nine separate sections of a drawer on a medical cart for exceptional organization. This allows for easy to see medical supplies and materials for staff members to grab. Modular drawer dividers are also easy to attach and detach on all Lakeside Medical Carts such as the C-630-B-2R and C-330-K-2Y-1 for easy cleaning and sanitation.

2. Heavy Duty Railing on Cart Top

Oftentimes, supplies and equipment will be placed on top of a medical cart by an operator’s staff. These heavy duty railings not only ensure that items stay in place during transport, but offer extended options for attachments to be added as well. Healthcare operators will have the ability to attach tools such as tape dispenser trays, label holders, plastic buckets and much more to successfully execute urgent tasks on a daily basis. Check out these heavy duty rails in action below on the Lakeside C-330-K-2Y-1 Isolation Cart!

3. Catheter Holder

An overlooked accessory that can prevent critical injuries to a patient’s urethra is a catheter holder. This accessory allows for external storage for a catheter so it can be quickly and easily accessed when needed. Healthcare operators and their staff will be able to breathe easier knowing they have a secure holder to lock a catheter into place on a medical utility cart. This holder is attached on the side of a Lakeside Medical Cart to allow for additional storage inside or on the top shelf.

4. Attachable Bar Brackets

These bars allow for additional storage to be added to the sides of a medical utility cart, much like a trellis system increases storage space to the top of a Lakeside Medical Cart. This bar allows healthcare operators to attach brackets to wire baskets that can then be equipped to the medical cart with drawers. At Lakeside, healthcare operators can find a wide selection of wire baskets to find the right fit for their specific needs.

5. Extensive Side Shelf

The addition of a side shelf offers an operator’s healthcare staff extended room for writing, setting down supplies, and carrying medical equipment. No matter the task, this additional area can truly make a difference on a medical cart that has a compact layout. It almost acts like a second set of hands for a healthcare staff member who has their plate full with several patients.

Additional Accessories for Operator Success

Maybe the five accessories we listed aren’t exactly what a healthcare operator needs. No fear, at Lakeside there are a variety of additional accessories that can create the perfect medical cart. One of these is an IV pole that can be attached to a Lakeside Medical Cart for enhanced functionality. Other medical accessories healthcare operators can choose from include a defib swivel shelf, oxygen tank brackets, and a container bracket to attach containers to.

Making a Case for Medical Carts

Medical carts house a vast variety of equipment, medications, and supplies within their four walls. Their drawers are filled with supplies for the specific task at hand. It doesn’t matter if it’s a crash cart or an anesthesia cart, medical utility carts house specific supplies for specific needs. While these drawers house a great variety of items, there is an opportunity for healthcare operators to attach accessories to the outer walls and structure of a medical cart and top of medical carts that allow for functionality to be optimized on rolling medical carts. For healthcare operators, it’s critical to understand the pros and cons of each accessory before adding anything to a medical cart with drawers.

When helping healthcare operators choose the right accessories for their specific needs, the list above is a good place to start. However, there’s more to uncover in our free guide to better assist a healthcare operator navigate through Lakeside’s accessories and accessory packages. See and discover more by clicking ‘Equip The Cart’ below!

In order to make sure you’re storing your equipment properly, it’s important to find the right utility stand for your specific equipment needs. Some stands are designed to provide more space around your equipment or offer additional storage spaces. It’s important to consider all options before making your purchase. In addition, it’s helpful to make sure that you choose a stand that will hold your equipment safely while still being easy to move and store when necessary. Consider some of these factors when you’re trying to find the right utility stand for your equipment needs and your healthcare facility. 

Define Needed Weight Capacity: 

If you are looking for a utility stand, there are a few things you should consider before purchasing. First, think about what the stand will be holding and how many pounds it will need to hold. If the stand only needs to hold 100 lbs., then a smaller stand will be a good fit. However, if the stand needs to support over 300 lbs., then it is worth investing in a heavier duty utility stand built to hold a greater amount of weight. When looking for a new utility stand, take a look at all the items this new stand will be responsible for holding and housing. If multiple pieces of heavy equipment will be held on the top shelf with a variety of supporting supplies underneath, it would be recommended to purchase a cart that is rated to hold up to 500 lbs. While some operational needs would require a utility stand to have a larger weight capacity, some may not. 

If the utility stand will be holding lighter weight items and supplies at your facility, a lower weight capacity stand can be used. Bigger is always better, or so they say. This is not always true when it comes to equipment. Find the weight capacity you need, and purchase based on that requirement. Sometimes having large equipment that is not being used to its fullest ability can be taking up valuable space that could be used to house another piece of vital equipment. Have a general gauge on how much weight the stand will need to hold and round up some to make sure there is room to add more if needed. 

Determine the Size: 

It is important to choose the right size utility stand for your equipment. This will depend on the space you have and the equipment size. For example, if you have a small space with only one or two pieces of equipment, a smaller stand may work better than a large stand. If you plan on storing more items on the utility stand along with equipment and a good amount of room for the stand, a larger stand might be best. Lakeside offers two sizes of utility stands to allow facilities the opportunity to select which would work better for their operations. As mentioned above, having a larger piece of equipment is not always the right choice. 

Choosing between a compact stand size and a full-size utility stand is a step that needs to be taken in the decision of purchasing a new utility stand. The compact size offers a smaller footprint while still offering a durable storage solution. The compact utility stand size has a width of nearly 19 inches. The compact cart is able to fit into smaller spaces where equipment may be needed for patients or into storage spaces with limited room. A full-size stand on the other hand has a width of just over 36 inches offering more space. While taking a look at what the stand will need to hold is important, where the stand will primarily live will also need to be factored in. Some spaces at a facility may have more available space than another. Rooms can be packed full of carts, stands, equipment, and supplies so make sure to take a look at how much room the cart will take up in the space it will primarily be stored in. With Lakeside utility stands being mobile, glancing into transporting practicality is also important. 

Some utility stands will be moved seldomly, some will just be moved about within a single room, and some may be needed across a department at different points. If the stand will be used to transport equipment and supplies throughout a facility quite often, make sure to play out the functionality of moving the stand. Each healthcare facility has a different layout, so making sure the size you choose will be able to be transported easily in your facility is a crucial consideration in this process. 

Consider Enclosed Drawers: 

Having enclosed storage may be a feature that is required of a new utility stand for your facility. Enclosed drawers offer a variety of solutions. The most notable solution they offer is their ability to house items in a secure and closed location. Supplies are meant to be used only by authorized personnel on the facilities team. Making sure they are stowed away in a safe and secure location is extremely important. While some utility stand applications may not need the enclosed drawers that offer a lockable storage space, some applications require this. Lakeside has utility stands with and without enclosed drawers so that they are an option if needed, but not an extra expense for those who do not need this secure space. 

These drawers do offer a secure location to store and lock supplies, but it also is an area that lose items can be placed into if the cart is needed elsewhere. During transport, items can shift around, especially lightweight ones. Having a drawer to put these items into while it is being moved helps to ensure everything is as it should be and available as soon as the cart is to its new location. Enclosed drawers offer various benefits to those who need this extra space. Take a look at what the cart will all be holding and see if a drawer would be a viable option for your new utility stand. 

Choosing the right utility stand comes with answering a few questions based on the weight it will need to hold, the size it should be, and whether or not a secure enclosed drawer is needed. Mobile utility stands offer the ability to move equipment easily to where it is needed when it is needed to provide the best care for each and every patient that walks through your doors. Lakeside manufacturers a selection of equipment utility stands to hold your lightest or heaviest equipment. Find your new utility stand today!

Every business has a budget, with some having larger budgets and some having smaller budgets. Either way, a year in advance is typically the outline businesses take for outlining their budgets in an effort of anticipating what expenses there will be with some room for variations. While healthcare facilities offer care for patients, at the end of the day, they need to be able to pay the bills to be able to keep their doors open. 

Budgets are crucial in the healthcare industry, especially when it comes to medical equipment. Facilities can anticipate the need for new equipment ahead of time allowing themselves time to find the right fit for their needs while remaining within their budget. Quality medical equipment does come at a cost, but investing in equipment that will last for years will end up saving money in the long run with its increased ROI. While quality equipment can be quite pricey, there are options that allow you to still purchase a quality piece of equipment while ensuring you stay on budget. 

Lakeside’s line of Super Saver carts are economically designed for the cost-conscious and budget-driven healthcare facility. These carts are still built with the same foundational qualities as our full-size medical carts, but allow facilities to invest in new equipment without breaking the bank. So why choose Super Saver rolling medical carts? Below we will go over the main benefits of Super Saver carts to highlight their main functionalities. 

Benefit #1: Compact & Durable

While these carts are slightly smaller in stature compared to standard full-sized carts, they still are built with the same structural materials to ensure the cart’s durability. With a stainless steel build, these carts are easy to clean and sanitize and will withstand heavy usage as they are used day in and day out. When medical carts are depended on in various areas of a department, it is very important to have a cart that will stand up to the test and be able to provide mobile transport of needed equipment, supplies and medications. Durability is the name of our game at Lakeside, and our Super Saver economic cart selection is no exception.

Benefit #2: Organizational Functionality 

Medical carts ultimately provide a storage space for the items providers need for their patients, and having an organized cart is a necessity. Having the supplies right where they are supposed to be helps reduce the time it takes to provide care for patients. Our Super Saver cart line offers various drawer configuration options to allow for selection of what suits your facility’s specific needs the best. Organization is a must, and the Super Saver medical cart line is sure to provide it. 

Benefit #3: Security of Supplies

Using medical carts allows for the safekeeping of supplies, medications, and equipment not only so that they are readily available when needed, but to also ensure that only healthcare providers are using these items. Having locks on medical carts is very important as it allows only providers access to the supplies. While some medical carts have locks for every drawer, this economical money-saving cart has just one lock on the top drawer. Not every medical cart requires all items to be locked up, so why pay for a cart that has extra unnecessary bells and whistles? With the one locking drawer, there is still the capability to lock items that need a secure location while also providing storage for other supplies that do not need to be locked in a drawer. The Super Saver carts provide the security you need at a cost your budget will appreciate. 

Benefit #4: Mobility to Move Around Facilities

Having a stationary medical cart limits the use of that piece of equipment as it is not able to be moved to where it is needed. There is a reason why most medical carts are mobile, and that is to allow equipment and supplies to be moved around so that the cart can offer functionality in various areas of a department. Although the Super Saver carts are more budget-friendly, this does not mean that mobility won’t be a feature. This line of carts is built with durable casters to ensure quick and efficient maneuverability to wherever it is needed. 

Being on a budget does not mean you have to sacrifice durability and efficiency in a cart. Having a cart that will withstand the hours, days, months, and years or use is so important when investing in new equipment. A cart that will only last you 5-10 years may be a more cost-friendly choice at the moment, but in the end it will cost more. The Super Saver medical cart line by Lakeside offers a low cost option while still providing the functionality that facilities need. Talk with a Lakeside cart expert today!