HIMSS: 10 Hot Systems And Peripherals For Health Care

HP's latest tablet, which debuted Monday, is an ultra-thin, multi-touch little number that the tech giant is targeting specifically for use in healthcare setting for those hungry for advanced mobile devices. The 2740p's basic version weighs 3.8 pounds and has a 12.1-inch diagonal LED display (with optional outdoor view display). It also comes preloaded with SkyRoom, HP's high-def videoconferencing software and collaboration suite.

Fujitsu's new kiosk, announced Monday, has ISVs in mind: It's both a medical kiosk and an open hardware platform through which developers can create and use applications to help ease processes like patient check-in, surveys and billing. The kiosk sports a 19-inch display and comes equipped with Fujitsu PalmSecure, the company's biometric reader for patient authenticating, plus an integrated camera and proximity mat. Fujitsu first debuted the Med-Serv 50 hardware platform a year ago, as part of the AllScripts Patient Kiosk.

Motion was the first tablet PC maker to launch a product based on Intel's Mobile Clinical Assistant, and its C5 has continued to gain features. The most updated version of the C5, on view at HIMSS this week and for which Motion plans to add additional capabilities in the next few weeks, weighs about 3 lbs, and boasts a digital camera, RFID reader and optional barcode scanner and incorporates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and optional WWAN. Recent additions to the C5 (and also Motion's F5 rugged tablet PC) include Gorilla glass, advanced screen protector technology developed by Corning for use with mobile devices in high-stress, easy-damage environments.

Panasonic at HIMSS debuted a 12.1-inch Toughbook C1, the latest in its healthcare-specific toughbook models and one that according to the company can withstand a 30-inch drop. The C1 weighs 3.2 pounds, runs for five hours on one battery (or run on two batteries that kick its weight up to 3.5 pounds), has a multi-touch screen for both fingers and stylus pen, and is built on a triple-hinge design that allows the notebook to not only open and close but also swivel its screen. Additional specs include a magnesium alloy case resistant to 225 pounds of pressure, spill-resistant keyboard, shock mounted hard drive, a 2.4 GHz core i5-520M processor and Gobi2000 mobile broadband support. It'll be available in June, according to Panasonic.

Artromick's mobile workstations are part of the company's Varia All-In-One portfolio: wheeled workstations that accommodate thin-client technology from HP, Wyse and others and tablet PCs from Dell, Toshiba, Motion and additional manufacturers. Accessories include everything from a keyless lock drawer to various infection control peripherals. On the hardware side, additional features include a 17-inch monitor and an optional 17-inch or 19-inch Planar LCD monitor. Software-wise, the NX10 is configured for use with EMR and other clinical software packages from 14 different vendors, including McKesson, NextGen, Eclipsys and Cerner. Of note is Artromick PowerWatch, a monitoring tool that offers guidance on system life, use history and charging specifics.

Stinger Medical's Nurse Advocate System seems to be a direct response to a constant complaint heard around patient care settings: the need for more power and flexibility. According to Stinger Medical, its full Nurse Advocate System offering covers hardware, software, and, through MobiusPower, a swappable power system custom-built for hospital mobile units. The battery packs (an example seen at left) offer 24/7 continuous swappable runtime, with a charge time per 22Ah battery pack of 2.5 hours. According to Stinger, a full battery pack swap takes fewer than 10 seconds.

Zebra's HC100 Patient I.D. Solution is a combination of its HC100 direct thermal printer and its specialized, Z-Band antimicrobial wristbands. Speeds and feeds include print speeds of 2 inches (or 51 mm) a second, and a resolution of 300 dpi, or 12 dots per mm. Physically, the device is a compact little number: 7 inches x 5 inches x 9.5 inches, with a weight of 3.1 lbs. According to Zebra, it offers about 18 different linear and 9 different 2-dimensional bar codes/symbologies.

LG's recently launched SmartVine N-series monitors are part of a range of new monitors the electronics division of LG is showing at HIMSS. The SmartVines use embedded virtualization from NComputing, meaning that the monitor itself is essentially a computer: users connect keyboards, mice and other peripherals direct to the monitor, which then itself connects to a host PC after the host PC is configured with a PCI Card Kit. According to NComputing, the SmartVines can mean a decrease by 60 percent in hardware costs, 70 percent in maintenance costs and 90 percent in electricity costs. According to LG, the displays work as traditional monitors as well, and are compatible with Windows and Linux environments.

Unotron is an infection control specialist, and makes washable peripherals -- keyboards, mice, smartcard readers, you name it -- that don't fear soap and water. It's also 100 percent channel and in the process of building out its partner program. The key to its products is SpillSeal, a coating technology that means hermetically-sealed casings on various peripherals. According to Unotron, it renders the peripherals completely waterproof and dustproof, and also rugged, capable of meeting various rugged and durability standards like IP66 and NEMA4X. Unotron makes its own -- the newest is the S6000K range line of keyboards -- and also has OEM relationships with a range of manufacturers.

The 3.7-inch hi-res display, Dolphin 9700, is a rugged mobile computer that Honeywell intends for not only point-of-care applications in the health care setting, but also parcel delivery, route accounting and other functions in transportation and field services. According to Honeywell, it sports integrated 3.5G, GSM/HSDPA and 802.11 a/b/g wireless, plus Bluetooth. Its Adaptus Imaging Technology 5.0 reads both linear and 2D bar codes, and performs image and signature capture. its platform is Windows Mobile 6.5 and it also offers instant message, e-mail, Web browser, voice-guided navigation and other collaboration and communication functions. Honeywell unveiled the Dolphin in early January, and like most Honeywell mobiles, it's disinfectant-ready and has Honeywell's Shift-PLUS power management system for maintaining 8-hour battery life.