Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates

As hospitals around the country reopen to elective procedures, unresolved challenges must once again be grappled with. One of these challenges is the reduction of hospital readmission rates. Hospital readmission refers to the readmission of a patient less than 30 days after a procedure, normally due to complications. According to the American Institute of Research, nearly one in five patients experience readmission.

While the lowering of this number should be enough to have hospitals take this issue seriously, there are other factors that contribute to the severity of this problem needing to be resolved. Due to the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), hospitals with an excess in hospital readmission rates may see their medicare payments significantly reduced.

With both the U.S. government taking this problem seriously and the sheer scope of the issue, it is more important than ever for hospitals to take the reduction of readmission rates seriously. Luckily, there is research showing that hospitals can take steps to reduce these rates, potentially saving patient’s time and money.

Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates

In a study titled, “Hospital Strategies Associated With 30-Day Readmission Rates for Patients With Heart Failure” researchers found a number of ways to help reduce readmission rates for patients. One of these methods was to ensure that patients had follow-up appointments before being discharged. By keeping careful track of a patient’s recovery on medical PCs, medical staff can know beforehand whether a patient can be discharged. Then, in a follow up appointment, medical staff can refer to information on their medical grade computer on the patient’s recovery and make the decision on whether or not to discharge them. Keeping a record of a patient’s recovery on a medical PC can ensure patients who would be readmitted will instead remain in care.

Handling Readmission

While reducing readmission rates should be the goal of any hospital, the study also found ways to help make readmission as smooth as possible. Part of their strategy is to create a plan for family members and caretakers to use in case a patient needs to be readmitted. In addition, linking inbound and outbound medical records also helped. By using a medical grade computer, doctors can create these game plans for family members and caretakers and securely transfer the files to them. In addition, doctors can use their medical grade computer to combine medical records and ensure that a readmitted patient receives the care they need.

Hospital Readmission Rates: Reduced With Medical PCs

Reducing hospital readmission rates is a crucial goal in healthcare, and medical PCs can help achieve it. Medical PCs are a type of medical grade computer, and help doctor’s keep track of patient’s records so that readmission is not necessary. When it is, medical PCs can help make the process easy and keep patients healthy. With a medical grade computer at your doctor’s side, there’s nothing they can’t accomplish.

Tangent is a leading supplier of medical grade computers. Sanitizable computers help prevent infections in hospitals.

Medical PCs are more than just what their name implies. Medical PCs are held to some of the most rigorous standards imposed on computers. At Tangent computers, all of our Medical PCs meet and exceed medical standards. Medical PCs like the Vita KW are UL 60601 certified for hospital use. In addition, Medical PCs that are Tangent computers feature fully antimicrobial enclosures. This means that Tangent computers are more sanitary than traditional computers and are capable of being used by multiple medical staffers in one setting.

Medical PCs In The Hospital Setting

As the nation reopens, so too will our hospitals. The CDC has recently published guidelines for hospitals on how to go about opening their doors for services such as elective surgeries. As hospitals dealing with massive backlogs begin this process, making sure they have the equipment they need will be crucial. Medical PCs can help hospitals deal with this backlog in a safe and sanitary manner.

Medical PCs: Safe And Sanitary

Medical PCs are more than just what their name implies. Medical PCs are held to some of the most rigorous standards imposed on computers. At Tangent computers, all of our Medical PCs meet and exceed medical standards. Medical PCs like the Vita KW are UL-60601 certified for hospital use. In addition, Medical PCs that are Tangent computers feature fully antimicrobial enclosures. This means that Tangent computers are more sanitary than traditional computers and are capable of being used by multiple medical staffers in one setting.

Touchscreen Enabled For Faster Use

Each day, medical staff use touch screens on their cellphones and are well acclimated to them. Tangent computers come with fully sanitizable touch screens built in, allowing medical staff to make full use of their innate touch screen abilities. Medical PCs by Tangent can also use traditional keyboards and mice as well. The E24B from Tangent features one such touchscreen, and can allow medical staff to work through backlogs with ease.

Built For 24/7 Use

What sets Tangent computers apart from other medical PCs for hospital use settings is their ability to run 24/7. Tangent computers feature hot-swap battery technology, which allows them to be used on mobile carts or in areas without plugs without needing to wait hours to charge. In addition, Tangent computers are backed by 24/7 U.S. based technical support. If there’s every a problem with a Tangent computer, it can be solved any time, anywhere.

Tangent Computers: The Best Medical PCs

Medical PCs are held to higher standards than other computers, but Tangent computers are on the highest standard. Medical PCs from Tangent are fully compliant with medical standards, and go beyond with their antimicrobial coating. With fully sanitizable touchscreens and hot-swap battery technology, medical staff can work safely and efficiently in the hospital.

Before our current crisis, healthcare workers already had a high burnout rate due to stress. With 42% of physicians feeling burned out by their work. The current situation is only exacerbating this stress for many frontline healthcare workers. While there is no convenient way to eliminate the overbearing weight of the world's current situation, there are smaller issues that can be easily resolved.

Reducing Frontline Healthcare Worker’s Stress And Anxiety

This crisis has taken a toll on all of us, but frontline healthcare workers have taken the brunt of this crisis. The doctors, nurses, and medical staff protecting the public health are doing so at their own risk. It’s no wonder then why some frontline healthcare facilities are seeing depression symptom rates of 50%. Experts say that as many as 25% of frontline healthcare workers may experience disorders such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress, according to the LA Times. How can we help these frontline healthcare workers and reduce their mental health issues?

Eliminate Other Stressors

Before our current crisis, healthcare workers already had a high burnout rate due to stress. With 42% of physicians feeling burned out by their work. The current situation is only exacerbating this stress for many frontline healthcare workers. While there is no convenient way to eliminate the overbearing weight of the world’s current situation, there are smaller issues that can be easily resolved.

Stressors for healthcare workers come in many sizes and forms, but largely have to do with the inefficiency of the healthcare facility that many work in. 49% of physician time is not spent helping patients, but rather filling out tedious paperwork. Having an assistant fill out this paperwork on a medical PC may reduce the stress physicians feel from this time sink. With assistants on medical PCs, doctors can focus on treating patients instead of filling out forms.

Medix C19 From Tangent

Easy To Use Medical Computer From Tangent

Improve Your EHR System

Electronic Healthcare Records (EHR) have done wonders for improving the efficiency of hospitals. But with the wrong hardware, EHR systems can have the opposite effect. Ensuring that your hospital has the latest medical PCs can help reduce EHR related stress. Medical PCs from Tangent feature the latest components and are designed for medical use. Tangent’s line of medical PCs are santiziable computers. This means that these medical PCs can easily be cleaned with regular hospital cleaning supplies.

With touchscreens, navigating EHR software on a Tangent sanitizable computer is quick and easy. Sanitizable computers with touch screens enable frontline healthcare workers to quickly input patient information and retrieve it as well. What’s more, these sanitizable computers are UL60601-Certified and come with a 3.5 year warranty, ensuring that these medical PCs last throughout this crisis without breaking down.

Medical PCs: Help Eliminate Frontline Healthcare Worker Stress

There is no one solution to our world’s current crisis. But when it comes to frontline healthcare worker stress, Tangent medical PCs can help reduce it. Tangent’s line of fully sanitizable computers can ease medical worker’s stress around their job, and lead to a better workplace.

Tangent is a leading supplier of medical grade computers. Sanitizable computers help prevent infections in hospitals.

Washable Computers For Hospitals And Healthcare Facilities

Now more than ever, washing your hands is crucial to staying healthy. Touching a surface that someone else has touched without washing their hands is part of the infection process. However, making sure that the surface is regularly cleaned is an effective way of reducing the risk of this happening. To that end, Tangent has designed a line of washable computers that can be regularly cleaned to prevent the infection process from occurring.

Washable Computers: Prevent Disease Vectors

In the hospital setting, a medical computer is an indispensable tool to helping patients. However, the same medical computer that helps patients can also harm doctors and nurses. A medical computer can be used by several different people in one day, all of whom are interacting with countless other medical personnel and patients. This can cause a medical computer to quickly turn into a breeding ground for pathogens.

With washable computers, the risk of infections from medical computer use can be reduced. The CDC has confirmed that cleaning agents do work on infection causing viruses, making washable computers an effective tool for hospitals to potentially reduce the risk of infection.

How To Wash A Medical Computer

The CDC has released guidelines on how to clean surfaces such as washable computers. For surfaces in general, the CDC recommends wearing disposable gloves during the cleaning process and immediately throwing them away afterwards. For electronics such as a medical computer, the CDC recommends using alcohol-based wipes or sprays which meet a minimum 70% alcohol threshold.

Medical Computers
  Medical Grade Computer Being Washed

Washable computers should be washed as frequently as possible to reduce the risk of infection. Ideally, washable computers should be washed thoroughly after every new user. This ensures that no pathogens remain on the medical computer between uses.

More Than Sanitary

Washable computers aren’t just a way to potentially reduce the risk of infection, they are a vital medical tool. Washable computers like the M24T from Tangent are designed for healthcare use. This medical computer comes with a built in webcam and mic, making it perfect for use in telemedicine. With an advanced touchscreen and antimicrobial enclosure, the M24T can operate without a keyboard and mouse, saving money and reducing the amount of surfaces to be cleaned.

Tangent M24T Medical Computer
            Tangent M24T Medical Computer

Washable Computers: The Clean Way To Compute

Medical computers are vital tools to hospitals and the patients they serve on a daily basis. Choosing washable computers for your hospital’s medical computers can help reduce infection risks, and help in telemedicine efforts.

Tangent is a leading supplier of medical grade computers. Sanitizable computers help prevent infections in hospitals.

Major players in the healthcare industry, both private and public, are preparing for telehealth. Telehealth with medical computers has proven to be an effective way of social distancing, and could potentially save lives. Make sure that your hospital takes advantage of all the programs available, and implements this crucial technology.

Telehealth Computers: How to Effectively Set Up Your Hospital

In these times, it is becoming increasingly risky to have healthy patients enter hospitals where they can easily become disease vectors. Because of this, many hospitals are transitioning doctor visits to telehealth visits. Telehealth refers to medical computer based doctor visits, where a doctor uses a medical computer to video-chat with their patient. Telehealth has seen such a rise in the last few weeks that the industry is having trouble keeping up with demand, according to the Wall Street Journal.

With this in mind, it is more important than ever to have this critical technology implemented in your hospital as soon as possible. Like personal protective equipment, telehealth using medical computers is a preventive measure to ensure those in your community and hospital remain healthy.

Telehealth Is Easier Than Ever

One of the main obstacles for telehealth is the seemingly tough challenge of implementing the technology. Because of the amount of regulations regarding medical data, using video-chat has been clouded by a barrier of laws. However, the Department of Health and Human Services has temporarily lifted many of these restrictions.

Video services like Zoom, Facetime, and Skype have all been given temporary approval for use during these times. Many other medical specific services such as VSee, Doxy, thera-Link, and Amazon Chime are available as well. Many of these telehealth services can be downloaded directly onto HIPPA compliant, medical grade computers.

Inform Patients That Telehealth Costs May Be Waived By Their Insurance

You read that right, insurance companies like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield have announced that they are suspending co-pays for telehealth appointments. Both of these insurance companies see the life-saving potential of telehealth appointments on medical computers.

As jobless claims in the United States surge, it is more important than ever to inform your service area of these telehealth services. Cost and fear of the current situation may prohibit patients from seeking help. Telehealth on medical computers can offer these patients a free and worry-free way to get the help they need.

Federal Funding For Telehealth Is On The Way

FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced a $200 million plan that if passed, would allocate money to healthcare facilities for implementing telehealth. If passed, this would greatly reduce the costs for hospitals to implement this life-saving technology. In addition, the plan calls assures those on government aided internet plans that they will not be cut off during these times. This means that those in the most need will have access to telehealth, so long as their local hospital does.

Everyone is Preparing For Telehealth, Are You?

Major players in the healthcare industry, both private and public, are preparing for telehealth. Telehealth with medical computers has proven to be an effective way of social distancing, and could potentially save lives. Make sure that your hospital takes advantage of all the programs available, and implements this crucial technology.

Tangent is a leading supplier of medical grade computers. Sanitizable computers help prevent infections in hospitals.

Around the clock urgent in the hospital demands medical grade pcs for 24/7 use

Medical All-In-One PCs for 24/7 Use

As one of the most trusted public services, healthcare facilities have an obligation to serve those in their community. Health emergencies can happen at any time, and as such hospitals are expected to be open 24/7. While medical staff can be shifted so that the hospital is constantly staffed and prepared for emergencies, the same cannot be said about the equipment they employ. Ensuring that your hospital has technology capable of being used on a 24/7 basis is crucial to providing quality healthcare to those in your community.

How To Keep Your Medical Carts Running 24/7

Medical carts with medical computers are one of the most important facets of any hospital. Medical carts with medical computers are capable of turning a stationary piece of medical equipment into a mobile workstation for use in multiple rooms of a hospital. However, medical carts with medical computers have one downfall: they need to be decommissioned regularly for charging. Medical carts can spend hours every day plugged into the wall instead of helping patients. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With medical computers from Tangent, your medical carts can operate on a 24/7 basis. Medical computers like the E24B from Tangent utilize hot-swap battery technology. While one battery is in use, two others can be charging. When the in-use battery gets low, simply insert another battery into one of the other two battery ports and the medical computer is completely recharge, all without being turned off!

Medix E24B From Tangent
                   Medix E24B From Tangent

Medical All-In-One PCs

Another way to ensure your facility’s medical computers are able to operate 24/7 is to make sure they are medical all-in-one PCs. Medical all-on-one PCs are medical grade computers where the entire computer contained behind their touchscreen. That means that medical all-in-one PCs like the Medix C19 from Tangent do not require mice or keyboards to operate. In addition, medical all-in-one PCs have the least amount of moving parts possible, driving down the amount of maintenance necessary substantially. Medical all-in-one PCs also can feature hot-swap battery technology, allowing them to be moved from one room to another without being unplugged and turned off. In an emergency, medical all-in-one PCs can also make use of their UPS battery backups to ensure that life-saving care can continue even without external power.

Medix C19 From Tangent
           Medix C19 From Tangent

24/7 U.S. Based Technical Support for Medical All-In-One PCs

Just like how your hospital operates 24/7, Tangent’s U.S. based technical support team is available 24/7. Tangent’s trained technical support operatives are knowledgeable about all tangent medical computer and medical all-in-one PC products. With remote assist tools, advance exchange services, and image pre-loading, Tangent’s U.S. based technical support team will find a solution to your issue. 

Medical Computers From Tangent: Built For 24/7 Use

Hospitals are designed to run around the clock, and the computers they employ should be too. Medical computers from Tangent are built to be used 24/7, ensuring your hospital provides the quality care your patients depend on, day and night.

 

medical grade PCs

You Can’t Stop Clostridioides Difficile In The Hospital, But There Is Hope

If you work in a hospital, you may be familiar with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a bacterium strain that causes antibiotic-resistant infections. While the prospect of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, commonly known as “superbugs,” are scary enough on their own, a new study in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy has given us a new reason to worry about C. diff. The study, spearheaded by Kevin Garey, a professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Houston in Texas, shows that C. diff is highly resistant to seven of the most commonly used cleaning agents in hospitals. So, what can be done to stop C. diff?

The study concluded, ”no disinfectant was able to completely eliminate C. diff embedded within biofilms.” While this was in a laboratory setting, the ramifications of this conclusion are apparent: normal cleaning is not enough to stop C. diff. Surfaces that are regularly cleaned, like those of medical computers, are still at risk of housing superbugs. Even worse, medical grade PCs are constantly being touched by different medical personnel, each potentially spreading or contracting superbug bacteria.

Tangent Medix T19B
Tangent Medix T19B

Luckily, medical grade PCs from Tangent have a few key features built-in that can help ward off potentially infectious superbugs. Tangent’s lineup of medical computers feature an antimicrobial coating, which mitigates the growth of bacteria. While this coating does not outright kill bacteria, it prohibits the growth of it, effectively eliminating newly placed bacteria over time. This allows medical grade PCs from Tangent to be safely handled by multiple medical personnel and reduced the likelihood of a superbug spread. 

Medical computers from Tangent also come equipped with passive cooling technology, which is completely fanless. Without fans, Tangent medical grade PCs reduce the spread of airborne pathogens and do not build up bacteria cesspools in their enclosures over time. Fanless cooling technology allows Tangent medical computers to be fully enclosed, ensuring that they do not contribute to stagnant, germy environments.

medical grade PCs
Medix KW Series

Because of these airtight enclosures, Tangent medical computers are also rated for IP water resistance. This allows them to be easily cleaned with common cleaning agents. While Professor Garey’s study concluded that no regularly used cleaning agents in hospitals were effective at completely killing C. diff, they did find that Clorox, OPA, and Virex were the most effective at reducing C. diff spores. These cleaners, in conjunction with Tangent’s antimicrobial enclosures, can help curtail the growth and spread of superbugs like C. diff.

With antibiotic resistance on the rise everywhere around the globe, it’s more important than ever to keep your hospital as safe as possible from potential superbug infections. Tangent medical grade PCs can help your hospital stay clean, and remain a place for patients to become healthier.

Medical All-In-One PCs

Tangent’s medical all-in-one PCs are built for 24/7 use in the hospital setting. Our line of medical all-in-one PCs are highly customizable to fit your workplace needs, and are designed with physician and patient safety and hygiene in mind.

Tangent Medix T24B
Tangent Medix T24B

 

IP65 Sealed and Protected

Tangent’s medical all-in-one PCs like the Medix T24B are IP65 certified water resistant. This allows the surface of the medical all-in-one PC to be easily cleaned without worry about damage. This sealing also prevents harmful bacteria growth in the cracks between the casing and screen, reducing the risk of interhospital disease spread. 

 

Medix C24
Medix C24

 

Long Lifecycle

Every medical all-in-one PC built by Tangent is designed to perform as efficiently as possible for as long as possible. The Medix C24 is a medical all-in-one PC that greatly exemplifies this, featuring a future-proof Intel I7 processor and up to 32 gigabytes of RAM. The requirements of a medical all-in-one PC vary from room to room, but with Tangent computers you won’t have to worry about being unable to run the latest healthcare programs. When expansion is needed, our medical all-in-one PCs feature PCIE expansion slots as well as multiple I/O slots to ensure that they are able to be used well into the future.

 

Medix E22B
Medix E22B

 

Medically Certified

Every medical all-in-one PC used in healthcare is required to meet UL/EN 60601 standards for electrical safety. Every medical PC created by Tangent meets these standards, and are guaranteed to be safe for use around patients and sensitive medical equipment. This enables medical all-in-one PCs like the Medix E22B to take full advantage of its hot-swap battery technology and be used on a constant basis without worry for physician’s or patient’s safety.

 

 

Tangent Medix T22B
Tangent Medix T22B

 Antimicrobial Enclosure

Mitigating the spread of diseases in hospitals is not only a top priority for hospitals themselves, but for Tangent as well. We strive to create medical all-in-one PCs that are as safe as possible, which is why every medical all-in-one PC we make features an antimicrobial enclosure. These enclosures inhibit the growth of dangerous diseases such as MRSA on their surfaces, allowing PCs like the Medix T22B to be safely used by multiple medical staff in the same day.

 

 

Medix KW Series
Medix KW Series

 

Front Facing Camera

Patient care is a constantly changing challenge, but with medical computers like the Medix KW Series, you can be one step ahead of the game. These medical all-in-one PCs feature front facing cameras, allowing doctors to “visit” with patients in recovery without having to trek across the entire hospital. These cameras also allow doctors to communicate over chat services, attend virtual meetings, and even take pictures of injuries for later examination. The possibilities of this feature are truly endless, and ensure that your hospital stays ahead of the curve.

 

 

 

What is a Medical Tablet ?

As hospitals increasingly computerize their workstations, the use of paper records has dropped considerably. While the introduction of computers in the hospital space has drastically increased their efficiency, the mobility of information that physical paper records entailed was nearly lost. This is where Medical Tablets found their niche, offering the same benefits as medical PCS and paper based records in one package. But what exactly is a medical tablet, and what are they used for?

 

Medical tablets are custom built tablets specially designed for the healthcare setting. There are many things that seperate medical tablets from their commercial counterparts, but to name a few:

 

  • Antimicrobial Enclosure – Commercial tablets are much like phones in that their surfaces are bacteria riddled, being some of the dirtiest surfaces we touch on a regular basis. Clearly in the medical setting, this would not do. Medical tablets feature antimicrobial enclosures, which inhibit the growth of bacteria on all surfaces of the tablet. All medical PCs feature such enclosures, but their inclusion on medical tablets that can be passed through multiple provider and patient hands in a day is paramount.

 

Tangent MedixT13
Tangent MedixT13
  • Hot-Swap Batteries – No one likes waiting around an outlet for hours while their phone charges, and in the medical setting there is no time to wait around while your medical tablet recharges. That’s why medical tablets like the Medix T13 Medical Tablet from Tangent come equipped with Hot-Swap battery technology, which allows for batteries to be independently charged from the tablet for later use. Hot-Swap batteries ensure that your medical tablets will have 100% uptime while on the job, and give your staff one less thing to worry about while helping patients.

 

Tangent MedixM8
Tangent MedixM8

 

  • Security Features – Abiding by HIPPA regulations is critical to hospitals providing safe and effective healthcare, and medical tablets are built to help hospitals meet these guidelines. Medical tablets like the Medix M8 Medical Tablet from Tangent have built-in smartcard readers, to ensure that only approved medical staff are accessing pertinent medical information.

 

 

These features, added together, ensure that medical tablets are the perfect computer for a wide variety of hospital computing jobs. Antimicrobial enclosures allow medical tablets to be passed between patient and staff member without worry of spreading harmful infections. Hot-Swap batteries enable medical tablets to operate on medical carts without needing to wait to be charged. Enhanced security features ensure that patient data is safe, and only accessible to those who are cleared. Medical tablets fill in the gap that paper records left when they were replaced with computers, and they fill this gap exceptionally better than paper ever could. 

 

Medical Grade PC for Hospital Performance and Efficiency

The introduction of computers in the workplace has made a litany of everyday tasks more manageable and efficient. Nowhere else is this as clearly seen than in the medical setting. Computers in hospitals have evolved from being simple filing systems to being fully integrated and specialized tools that are indispensable to everyday operations. These computers have forked from traditional workplace computers, and fall under the umbrella term, “Medical Grade PC.” Medical grade PCs are custom tailored for the hospital setting, being able to fit directly into your existing networks and customized for every situation.

 Medix KW Series

Medix KW Series

Safe And Sanitary

Medical grade PCs differ from conventional workplace PCs in many ways that directly cater to hospitals. For instance, all Medical grade PCs come equipped with an antimicrobial enclosure, which mitigates the growth of bacteria and pathogens on the surfaces of the PC. This is vital to keeping the spread of inter-hospital diseases like MRSA or E. coli at a minimum, as medical grade PCs see multiple users(thus germs) throughout the work day. Medical grade PCs give workers peace of mind, allowing them to work freely on their computer without worrying about theirs or their patient’s risk of infection. A healthy workplace is an efficient workplace, and medical grade PCs ensure that your workstations are efficient ones.

 

Versatile And Efficient

Medical workstations on wheels, also referred to as medical carts, are vital to providing medical services throughout the hospital. When equipped with medical grade PCs, these carts become invaluable to administering care to multiple patients. Conventional workplace computers rely on mounted batteries that would force medical carts to spend time out of commision while charging. Medical grade PCs such as the Medix T24B from Tangent come equipped with hot-swap battery technology, allowing for medical carts to remain fully active throughout the day. Being able to swap out batteries means that you don’t need multiple medical carts to cover ones that are charging, one medical cart with a medical grade PC equipped will perform more than adequately.

Medix T24B
Medix T24B

Clear And Accurate

Having accurate information is critical to patient care, a misdiagnosis or misinterpretation can have a lasting impact on not only your patient’s health, but your hospital’s reputation. Medical grade PCs are built with this fact in mind, and when paired with a Medical LCD Monitor from Tangent, produce precisely accurate information through DICOM technology. This technology constantly analyzes display information from your medical grade PC, compares how it should be displayed with how it will appear on screen, and adjusts the resulting image correctly to ensure that the information displayed is accurate. Whether displaying medical records or x-rays, medical LCD monitors are the best way to display information from a medical grade PC.

 

Tangent CL24 Touch Screen Medical LCD Monitor
Tangent CL24 Touch Screen Medical LCD Monitor