Industrial-grade panel PCs are designed to power automation, but factories aren’t the only place where they find a use. Apart from the obvious suspects like retail or food processing industries, industrial panel PCs have found surprising success in Healthcare.

But what is it that makes industrial panel computers suitable for this field? What kind of medical applications are improved by such PCs?

The Unique Challenges of Computing in Healthcare

Embedded computers are deployed in virtually every field, but the medical industry has some unique requirements.

First up, hygiene. Healthcare facilities are cleaned very frequently to prevent the buildup of germs, which means that any electronics used must be completely waterproof. This also means that things like cooling fans in the chassis or input devices like mice are not preferred, as dust and liquids can seep in and damage the item.

Then there is the question of safety standards. The medical sector, more than any other field, requires safety norms to be perfectly followed. This extends to any devices in use as well, which must be certified with the most stringent regulatory standards.

And finally, there is the size factor. Most rooms in a hospital or a diagnostic lab are packed with equipment, with very little room to accommodate a desktop terminal setup. As a result, most PC form factors are unsuitable for medical computing.

Why Industrial Panel PCs?

Industrial panel PCs are designed to combine powerful specifications with a lean form factor. And as industrial settings can be harsh, these are usually designed to be rugged, sustained through fanless cooling.

As a result, Industrial panel PCs perform well in the medical sector too. A touch panel like this will be able to keep up with the 24/7 workload of a healthcare facility, it’s airtight enclosure keeping it protected from liquids and dust.

These are small enough to be easily installed alongside diagnostic devices or just carried around as mobile computers by healthcare professionals. Fanless cooling means their noise profile is also low, making them very unobtrusive as well.

Applications of Industrial Panel PCs in Healthcare

Medical Imaging

Diagnostics are the most obvious use case for medical computing. Any healthcare facility has dozens of advanced machines that perform a variety of tests, and they need to connect with computers to display the results and process them.

A panel PC is ideal for this role, as its form factor means that it can be easily installed near every diagnostic device without requiring much space. And if you use an industrial-grade panel computer, it will have the power to carry out the complex imaging tasks without issues. Some modern panels can even implement new AI functions to offer better predictive diagnosis based on the test results.

Mobile Tablet

Nurses and doctors need to oversee a large number of patients, and keeping track of all that data can become tricky, especially when visiting patient wards. The traditional paper clipboard is cumbersome and error-prone, not to mention requiring another layer of data entry to eventually digitize.

A better option is to outfit them with panel PCs. Healthcare personnel can simply carry these around, accessing the needed data on the spot and updating information seamlessly. These can also be used by other staff in charge of taking stock of medical supplies and inventories, just like how industrial panel PCs are used in warehousing.

Patient Monitoring 

Treatment can be a long-drawn process, with long periods of rest and recuperation in between the actual procedures and tests. Patient health needs to be actively monitored during this period, which can be tricky to do in person.

That is where a panel PC can prove useful. These small, yet powerful computers can be installed at the bedside of critical patients, hooked up to monitoring equipment. This lets the doctors keep an eye on the patient’s health parameters remotely, while also preserving a log of their condition.

Are Industrial Panel PCs the Best Choice For Healthcare Applications?

General-purpose embedded PCs don’t tend to do well in specialized applications like those found in the medical sector. An industrial panel PC is miles better than trying to adapt a regular board to this use case.

That being said, dedicated medical panel PCs are also available these days, so you don’t need to compromise. These are usually industrial panel computers that have been outfitted with the required licensing and specifications to excel in healthcare applications, making them the ideal choice.

Of course, any rugged touch panel PC can be adapted similarly, in case you require a custom solution. If you are unsure about what to go for to power your own medical use case, reach out to us! Here at Global American, we make sure to find the right system for your needs or put together a custom PC if needed.