Medical All-In-One PCs

September 13, 2019September 13, 2019 Michelle

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Medical PC: Customizable for Your Healthcare Needs

August 21, 2019August 21, 2019 Michelle

While All-In-One PCs do feature the capabilities of a PC, keyboard, mouse, and monitor in one convenient package, there’s always more room to fit in a few more features. At Tangent, our Medical PCs are built to be customized, having multiple options to fit your hospital’s unique needs. These customization options make medical PCs from Tangent the perfect platform to build on.

Hot Swap Battery Charging Station

Medical care is a 24 hour industry, and your medical PCs shouldn’t have to be out of commision charging for hours when they could be working. That’s why medical PCs like the Medix T19B from Tangent come equipped with Hot Swap battery technology, allowing you to seamlessly replace batteries without interruption. This technology allows this medical PC to be used on the go, while operating as though it was plugged into an outlet. When plugged in, the Medix T19B operates like a normal desktop and charges its batteries. However, sometimes an extended period of unplugged usage is needed, and you may find yourself having exhausted all three batteries. With the optional external battery charging station, this is no longer an issue and the Medix T19B can run around the clock.

Barcode and RFID Scanners

RFID technology has seen an explosion in use over the last decade, and has become an indispensable tool to hospitals. Tangent knows this, and that’s why medical PCs from Tangent can be customized to have RFID reading technology. Medical PCs like the

KW series can easily be customized to include RFID readers without the need for a third party peripheral. Likewise, Tangent medical PCs can be equipped with barcode scanners right out of the box for use in the hospital.

Tangent Medical Computer T22B — Tangent Medix T22B

vPro

IT departments in every sector use vPro to monitor activities on company computers. vPro can be used to diagnose computers without IT needing to be physically present, and can greatly increase productivity. However, not every medical PC needs this technology right out of the box, and Tangent knows this. That’s why medical PCs like the Medix 22B have the option of including vPro, but not the requirement. This customization allows you to decide when and where vPro is used, and not worry about having unnecessary features.

Cameras and Microphones

One of the greatest advantages of having All-In-One medical PCs from Tangent is their versatility; a medical cart and operating room can run on the same exact medical PC. Take the Medix E22B and E24B from Tangent for example, these computers feature the Hot-Swap battery technology to be used on medical carts, but can also be customized to include a front facing auto-focus Camera and microphone. This allows the E22 medical PCs to be used to check in on patients in recovery, host remote meetings, and take pictures and videos. This customization option has limitless medical applications, and all on a computer that can be used in any situation!

And Many More

These are just a few of optional features that Tangent medical PCs have to offer. Smart ID reading, VESA mounting, and expanded storage options are also available for Tangent medical PCs. Whatever your computing need is, you can be sure there’s a customization option that will make a Tangent medical pcr your number one choice.

What is a Medical Tablet ?

August 15, 2019August 16, 2019 Michelle

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.

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.

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

August 8, 2019August 8, 2019 Michelle

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.

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.

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

What is a Medical Grade Computer?

August 1, 2019April 2, 2021 Michelle

There’s no doubt that medical grade computers have helped hospitals and other medical institutions in unimaginable ways. But what exactly is a medical grade computer, and do they live up to the hype surrounding them? In short, there are no requirements for a computer to be labelled as a medical grade computer, however there are some standards that have been widely accepted by suppliers, buyers, and regulators. Ensuring that your medical institution has medical grade computers that not only meet these standards, but surpasses them is paramount to supplying quality care to patients and driving down costs.

Today’s medical grade computers meet certain regulatory guidelines in order to be placed in the medical setting, including CE, FCC class A and/or B, UL60601-1 and EN60601-1, and CDC guidelines. In tandem with these guidelines, other factors such as DICOM Support, antimicrobial casing, and HIPAA compliant electronic health record (EHR) support play into calling a computer a medical grade computer. These factors blend together to provide medical institutions with capabilities only medical grade computers can offer, a few are listed below.

EHR Accessibility

Quick access to patient’s records is key to quality patient care, and paper based health records are slow, inefficient, and can be easily damaged. Medical grade computers are HIPPA compliant, meaning that they are legally allowed to utilize EHR software. EHR software minimizes the risk of human error when creating health records, provide the fastest possible access to all aspects of a patient’s medical history, and do not require a massive filing system. In addition, the antimicrobial coatings of medical grade computers ensures that the spread of germs is far less likely than with paper-based records that get passed from hand-to-hand. For even quicker access, Medical Grade Tablets provide the same access to records as medical grade computers, and can be used on the go.

DICOM Support

Without accurate, color correct images on screen, doctors are prone to make easily avoidable mistakes while looking at x-rays or other medical scans. Medical grade computers with DICOM support continuously run small programs that compare how images are supposed to look with how they are being presented, and corrects the resulting image accordingly. DICOM supported Medical Grade Computers are a must-have in any diagnostic room where accurate diagnoses are required.

Antimicrobial Enclosures

As previously mentioned, medical grade computers have antimicrobial enclosures which inhibit the growth of bacteria, promoting a germ-free environment. Computers in the medical setting see a constant stream of new hands throughout the day, each pair carrying a new and distinct cocktail of bacteria. Normal computers would be a festering pool of bacteria in this environment, which is why having antimicrobial enclosures is so important. The Touch Screen Medical LCD Monitor from Tangent has this critical antimicrobial enclosure, allowing for various medical staff to access this panel without worry of spreading disease.

Medical grade computers are an essential tool for making your hospital a clean and efficient setting for patient care. Medical grade computers and peripherals from Tangent are a league above commercial computers, and ensure that your hospital is at the forefront of innovation.

Mobile Phone vs Medical Tablet: What’s Best in Healthcare?

April 22, 2019April 23, 2019 Michelle

Technology you encounter at hospitals can be a tad confusing or funny at times. You see million dollar state-of-the-art scanners and treatment machines, but then you also see a doctor walk by with a 90s style pager clipped to their pocket.

The reason for this is that they both suit their purpose best. The most up-to-date scanners do a better job of identifying anomalies and areas of concern, and the old pagers have a longer battery life and better signal strength than cell phones can get in hospitals. You also see hospital staff roaming around with medical tablets more often than mobile phones, although one would think that mobile phones do just as much for cheaper.

However, there’s quite a bit of thought that goes into the tablets used by medical professionals.

Most standard mobile phones like the iPhone are created for general consumer use for normal daily activities like making calls, using the internet, or taking photos. Medical grade tablets are designed specifically for use in healthcare facilities.

For example, the Tangent Medix T13 has a magnesium chassis that makes it 33% lighter than aluminum and offers high impact resistance. The surface of the medical tablet is treated with an antimicrobial surface that prevents the growth and/or spread of infection and germs, and it also keeps the enclosure material from degrading over time. You’re not likely to see a feature like that on a regular mobile device. Mobile phones are also susceptible to water damage even from minor contact with it. The T13 medical tablet is rated at an IP65 level of protection from dust, water, or contaminant intrusion into the computer. Mobile phone design is meant to be sleek and aesthetically pleasing to the consumer eye, but without a good case and screen protector, they are not long for this world. Tangent’s medical tablets are constructed with a rugged design that has good grip and protected against vibration and shocks from short drops.

The internals of the devices also have quite a few notable differences. While a mobile device’s battery can be recharged within an hour or so, hospital staff simply can’t wait that long. Tangent’s T13 medical tablet has hot-swappable batteries that can be switched out while maintaining continuity in power. That is a huge thing for patient care, and a big reason why many still carry those old pagers to get quick notifications. If you know Apple, then you know that they don’t customize their product or allow for repairs, even replacing the battery when it’s bad. Tangent enjoys offering accessories and options on their products that best suits the needs of their clients. On the outside, the T13 has a kickstand and a hand strap for easy mobility and visibility. Inside, they offer a barcode scanner and/or RFID for asset tracking or locating patients. The details make everything about a medical tablet, which is why medical facilities invest in what works best for them.

Toss the Mouse and Keyboard, the Future is Touchscreen

December 6, 2018December 6, 2018 Michelle

Toss the Mouse and Keyboard, the Future is Touchscreen

We are truly living in the age of touchscreen technology. According to eMarketer, 2.4 billion people were using smartphones worldwide in 2017, and 1.2 billion people were using tablet devices. The adoption figures are projected to increase even more over the coming years. An entire generation of children have now grown up using touchscreen tablets and telephones. So considering that most of the world is comfortable with touchscreen computing, it makes perfect sense that touchscreen panel PCs are gaining a lot of traction in businesses.

For a very long time, keyboards and mouse devices were cumbersome requisite peripherals to the computing experience. The roller balls in computer mice were like magnets for dust and lint and that would foul up the device very quickly. Optical and wireless mice were an an improvement, but contaminants could still block the sensors and running out of battery was a major inconvenience to one’s work day. The amount of gross things a keyboard can collect over its lifetime is a whole topic on its own. And at the end of the day, if either device failed, one had to pray that they had a backup on hand lest they lose valuable work time.

An industrial grade panel PC with a touchscreen that is built to work with gloved hands is perfect for medical settings where contamination or infection control is a critical factor for health and compliance. The Vita KW series of panel PCs from Tangent offers a wide range of sizes from
15 inches to 24 inches and many mounting options to suit a variety of uses, for example, a patient information kiosk, a medical cart panel PC, an in-room computer, a medical records and billing panel PC, and so much more. For medical computers that don’t require the use of gloves, but do need to be kept clean, the KW series panel PC can be sprayed and wiped with disinfectants without any threat of harming the panel PC or worry that it won’t be completely cleaned. The KW series panel PCs are rated at an IP65, meaning that they highly protected against dust and water ingress. That cannot be said of keyboards or mice for the most part. Unless a waterproof mouse and keyboard are used (which are also offered by Tangent), there’s a good chance that contaminants are lurking in the cracks and crevices of the device.

For harsher environments that are even tougher on a panel PC like industrial meat packing plants, food production facilities, and any other enterprise requiring high levels of sanitation and hygiene, the Tangent S Series panel PC is best suited to the job due to it’s IP69K rated, fully waterproof enclosure. The S series touchscreen panel PC can be sprayed with hot, high pressure jets and endure stringent wash downs without any damage to the unit. The S series is also offered in a variety of panel sizes and mounting options. Workers can used gloved or ungloved hands on the touchscreen equally well to conduct their business. It’s quite remarkable how a touchscreen panel can be both sensitive and very durable at the same time. This is the level of ingenuity and quality that Tangent offers.

Medical Tablets for Sanitation

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018 Michelle

Medical Tablets: Handheld and Sanitary Computer Solutions

People tend to forget that public computers and touchscreens are prime breeding grounds for bacteria and infection. Just this week, a study done by a British newspaper, Metro, announced that they found gut and fecal bacteria on the touchscreen computers in all eight of the McDonald’s chain restaurants that they checked. The main bacteria found was coliform but the dangerous listeria bacteria was also found on some of the screens. The restaurant chain responded that the touchscreens are regularly cleaned, but how much stewardship and regulation goes into a restaurant’s computers cleanliness? There didn’t appear to be much foresight into how easily communicable germs and bacteria are.

It’s no small surprise that infection control is one of the top priorities within medical facilities. Any reputable hospital system has written and publicly published policies and procedures related to infection control for everything including computer equipment. An industrial panel PC from Tangent is the optimal choice for tackling the threat of infection. For example, the KW series panel PC is rated with an IP65 level of protection which precludes any sort of dust or contaminant ingress into the panel PC, and can also withstand direct water jets and cleaning solutions. The panel PC can be sprayed and wiped down an innumerable amount of times and never get damaged from it.

The industrial grade metal enclosure offers a rugged, corrosive resistant surface that is also treated with an antimicrobial coating to further protect patients and staff from the spread of infection. The inside of the panel PC also plays a large part in promoting cleanliness and durability. The computer operates entirely without fans or moving parts. Failures within a computer are often attributed to components that wear out. The Tangent panel PC requires less maintenance, has more uptime, and doesn’t blow any dust particles around.

Another feature that’s making panel PCs the new norm in medical facilities is their compact size and all-inclusiveness. Having no separate PC box or cabling drastically cuts down on the space needed. Keyboards and mice are notoriously hard to keep clean, so the option to cut them out of the equation is very possible and attractive with a Tangent panel PC. They are offered with 4-wire resistive touch or PCAP multi-touch screen to provide a range of functionality based on the client’s needs. Optional Intel Wireless AC-7260 and Bluetooth functionality also adds to the cord-cutting versatility of Tangent’s panel PC line.

Tangent took the extra step of ensuring that their medical tablets and industrial panel PCs are validated to be fully compliant with both Epic and Cerner applications, two of the biggest providers of health information technology solutions and services in the world. A lot of effort was put into creating a line of purpose built industrial panel PCs that would give medical practices powerful computing capabilities, ease-of-use, reliability, and to help avoid infection scares like with the fast food touchscreen fiasco. It’s a big enough scandal for a big name restaurant, but it would be catastrophic for a small health facility.

Invisible Threats

July 25, 2018July 26, 2018 Michelle

Invisible Threats

Hospital equipment often is advertised as being antimicrobial, but how is it possible for a LCD monitor or tablet computer to ward off pathogens in a medical setting without being wiped down with disinfectants all the time? It seems odd for a collection of plastics and wires to promote any sort of health benefits, but medical advancements and information technology have long gone hand in hand. Antimicrobial additives can now be blended into plastic surfaces during the manufacturing process to provide lasting protection from microbes, harmful bacteria, mold, fungi and viruses. This minimizes the risk of the spread of infection, staining, smells, and material degradation. When you take into account that hospital associated infections have caused more than 100,000 deaths in the United States, it’s no wonder that great efforts are made to sterilize every surface possible.

Another benefit of antimicrobial plastic is that the additives have been tested to last for the expected lifetime of the treated product, like Tangent’s Medical LCD monitors. Once infused into plastic, antimicrobial additives don’t leech from the surface, cause discoloration or affect the clarity of the plastic. This ensures that the equipment can be confidently kept in medical spaces to keep patients safe for years without degrading the quality of the device. Every Tangent Touch Screen Medical LCD monitor comes factory treated with an antimicrobial additive to battle surface contamination. The 22” Medical LCD monitor also has an IP65 rated front panel, which means it’s rated as dust tight and protected against water projected from a nozzle. One doesn’t expect a random hose to be shooting water around a hospital, but strange things are known to happen. Actually, this provides a very beneficial added layer of cleanliness to the LCD monitor. The monitor can be easily cleaned and wiped down with no chance of damaging it’s internal components or adversely affecting its touch screen capabilities.

Microbes and bacteria are a threat that is naked to the eye, and yet another invisible and potentially hazardous peril can arise from electronics in a medical setting. Before 1977, there was no standard for safety on medical equipment and electric shocks and shorts were commonplace. Since then the EN 60601-1 family of standards was developed. Its scope covers the safety, essential performance and electromagnetic compatibility of medical electrical equipment and related systems. Tangent’s Touch Screen Medical LCD is certified EN 60601 and is compliant with CDC guidelines. Painstaking measures are taken to ensure that these LCD monitors are safe, sanitary, and effective in a medical space. It’s VESA 75 mounting capability allows for affixing the LCD monitor to an arm, point-of-care cart, or stand.

Pair this sleek LCD monitor with one of Tangent’s antimicrobial, waterproof keyboards, and a rugged, fanless PC to truly experience a long-lasting, dependable, hygienic computer system. There is enough to worry about in a hospital settings without having to consider whether your computer components are making patients unwell or spreading dust and spores.

Touchscreen Computers – Touching on a Future of Self-Service

July 3, 2018July 26, 2018 Michelle

Touchscreen Computers – Touching on a Future of Self-Service

Over the last couple decades, self service technologies have revolutionized how people conduct business, travel and even receive healthcare services.These technologies have vastly improved efficiency through increased control over service delivery, convenience, reduction in wait time, reduction in operating costs, and flexibility in use. At many restaurants, dozens of flavors of sodas can be mixed and dispensed at the touch of a screen, and ordering one’s own food on tablets is an increasingly popular trend. Shopping malls and corporate offices provide interactive directories to its visitors, and it is nearly impossible to encounter any ticketing area of an airport that is not brimming with touchscreen kiosks for checking in and getting flight information. Self-service touchscreen computers are appearing in hospitals in great numbers as well. Patients are checking into their appointments without the help of medical administrators which is streamlining administrative tasks like hospital registration and payments.

Touchscreen computer technology is widely available and the demand for it is extremely apparent, but how durable are these machines that are abused on a daily basis? After all, a solution is only effective if it is reliable. Luckily, industrial touchscreen computers like the ones offered by Tangent benefit from a durable and rigorously tested construction. Tangent’s S Series of 15″, 19″, and 22″ touchscreen computers are assembled with rugged, stainless steel housing that offers a corrosion resistant surface. The standard casing is IP66/NEMA 4x rated, which means the enclosure is constructed for either indoor or outdoor use and provides a degree of protection against dirt, rain, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, hose-directed water, and corrosion. The S series also has an optional IP69K rated enclosure which means that high pressure and high temperature washdown can be used to sanitize the equipment. Of course this is likely overkill for most applications, but it’s nice to know the equipment can handily be subjected to such a powerful scrub and high heat without experiencing any damage.

One of the better advancements in touchscreen technology is Projected Capacitive Touch, also known as PCAP. The first capacitive touchscreen required a bare finger to use and could not allow for multi-touch, but now PCAP touchscreens offer high precision multi-touch functionality and high response speed. They also work when operated by a hand covered in surgical gloves or other thin gloves, which is essential in a hospital or industrial settings. The S series offers this PCAP as an option on all sizes of their touchscreen PCs. And like with many of Tangent’s industrial products, the unit is rated for shock protection and has a fanless design for extreme reliability, and noise-free operation. For an added measure of autonomy and utility, the S series can be equipped with Intel Wireless AC-7260 & Bluetooth for a relatively wire-free system. The efficiencies that touchscreen computers provide are nearly boundless, and with such reliable systems available, companies are able to utilize them to their full potential.