Crash carts play a critical role in resuscitating patients who are experiencing a “code blue” when they need resuscitation or other critical interventions. This also is the reason many crash carts are coloured blue.
What is the importance of crash cart procurement for your particular healthcare facility? Below is a succinct breakdown of everything you need to know.
Everything You Need to Consider About Crash Carts and Why They Are Critical to Medical Facility Management and Patient Care
What is a Crash Cart?
A crash cart is an essential piece of equipment. It is traditionally used in hospitals for transportation and dispensing emergency medication/equipment at site of medical/surgical emergency site for life support protocols. Because of this, a crash cart’s size, shape, and contents vary between hospitals, clinics, and related practices and may even vary between different departments within the same setting.
Crash carts generally carry a combination of medications that must be accessed and delivered as quickly as possible in emergencies. They may also include most materials necessary for adult and pediatric intubation. Crash carts are also outfitted for intravenous lines, procedure drawers, and more. This robust definition alone infers the importance of crash cart procurement for your facility.
Pro tip: Not all crash carts are built the same. For example, Metro Lifeline crash carts are purpose-built for code response and have distinct advantages such as greater mobility and organization so that each code team member can approach the cart from a different direction and reach the supplies they need.
Who Needs a Crash Cart?
Crash carts are a general requirement for multiple settings within small to large healthcare facilities and clinics. We often get inquiries for units that will be ideal for the following places:
- crash cart for medical office
- crash cart for hospital
- crash cart for emergency departments
- crash cart for ICU
As stated before, not all crash carts are built the same and shouldn’t be. The requirements for a standard adult crash cart are different than those for pediatrics. The same can be said for crash carts designed for either Basic or Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
What to Look for When Choosing a Crash Cart?
The fact that crash carts are ncecessary in such a wide spectrum of health facility settings infers the necessity to access customized options. Choose your brand accordingly.
Forsyth Healthcare crash carts come in a variety of material options, which factor into ease of use in unique environments. These options include the following:
- Polymer – light and durable, higher in cost
- Aluminum – lighter, easier to push, but costs more
- Steel – cost-effective but heavier
The configuration options are the most exciting part of choosing Forsyth Healthcare crash carts. This allows for superior customizability for your patients, staff, and physical facility. Configuration options include the following:
- Cart size – cart height and footprint are important. Cart height also dictates how much drawer space there is.
- Drawers – Configure the size and quantity of drawers to match your supplies
- Accessories – what external accessories do you need?
- Casters – total and directional locking casters help with mobility, some models even feature a 5th wheel for even greater maneuverability
Procurement personnel are also pleased to know that we carry the crash cart brands that Canada and USA know and trust. Our brands include the following:
- Metro
- InnerSpace
- Harloff
- Waterloo Healthcare
- MPD Medical Systems
- Lakeside
Start customizing your crash cart/s today with Forsyth Healthcare.
