How to Plan PDMS Workstations for Hospitals
A clinician charting at the bedside needs to see the display, reach the keyboard, and stay oriented toward the patient. Whether that is practical depends on where the workstation sits and how it moves within the room. For medical device manufacturers and hospital project teams, those details belong in the brief for a patient data management system (PDMS) from the start.
Start with the room and the clinical workflow
Map where staff document care and where they need to see the patient monitor. In an intensive care unit, the workstation may need to fit alongside a bedside monitor. In an operating room, the position of the anesthesia workstation and the movement of a ceiling supply unit may shape the available space. In a recovery room, the layout may favor a workstation that can be moved out of the way when staff need access to the bed.
Survey each room type before selecting a mounting arm. Identify possible mounting points on walls, equipment rails, or ceiling supply units. Record where power and network connections are available, then check how cables will run with the workstation in use and in its parked position.
Test the workstation with the people who use it
Ask clinical staff to try a typical documentation task with the proposed display and keyboard positions. Can they adjust the screen and reach the controls from their usual working position? Can they maintain a view of the patient and the patient monitor where the workflow requires it?
Test the full range of motion with the actual equipment and accessories in place. Check where the arm and keyboard sit when parked and whether neighboring equipment can still move as intended. A mock-up in a representative room can help the team spot conflicts before installation.
Plan for installation and life after go-live
Agree early on who prepares the mounting points and connections, who installs the workstation, and who handles service calls. Make sure technicians can reach connectors and replace a display or keyboard with the surrounding equipment in place. If the rollout spans several room types, document which components can be shared and where different adapters or arm lengths are needed.
Four questions to resolve before specifying a mount
- Where will staff document care, and what needs to stay in view?
- Which mounting points and connections are available in each room type?
- What range of motion and parked position fit the workflow?
- Who will install, service, and adapt the workstation over time?
iTD offers PDMS mounting options such as the compact rm-port and the height-adjustable flexion-port. Compare their configurations against your room layouts, device requirements, and clinical workflows.