5 Benefits of Modular Supply Storage Options

Modern medical facilities house a dizzying number of medical supplies and equipment ranging from the mundane bandaid and syringe to top-of-the-line handheld ultrasound devices. 

Purchasing modular hospital storage solutions can protect supplies, provide flexible storage, maximize space, help staff provide better patient care, and reduce costs.  

Read on to learn about the top 5 benefits of using modular systems for supply storage.

Flexibility

Modular storage solutions are the key to setting up a healthcare space that can flex with the ebb and flow of a rapidly changing industry. Here are some options for updating your supply storage space: 

Do you love the look of built-in cabinets but want the flexibility to reconfigure as your needs change?
Choose a system that lets you design the interior storage to suit your staff workflows.

Our Recommendation: InnerSpace Evolve Cabinets

Do you want to integrate mobile procedure carts into your staff workflows?
Choose carts that meet the needs of busy hospital units and medical offices, and attach accessories and configurable drawers.

Our Recommendation: Pace Procedure Carts

Do you need high-density mobile storage?
Consider a lightweight option combining flexibility and mobility.

Our Recommendation: Roam Healthcare Supply Carts

Efficient Use of Space

In 2023, the FDA cleared 167 breakthrough devices and a record 124 novel devices. As new devices and supplies find their way into the healthcare marketplace, hospitals must find space to store them. 

Maximize storage capacity by choosing modular cabinets that meet the needs of each unit. As your needs or workflows change, high-density modular storage cabinets can accommodate additional supplies. Evolve healthcare cabinets are an example of high-density design.

Efficient Patient Care

One goal of healthcare systems is to provide safe and effective patient care. 

Optimal patient care hinges on the ability of staff to quickly access what they need without damaging or contaminating nearby supplies. 

Modular storage cabinets and mobile carts should offer clear doors, removable accessories, and adjustable baskets, shelves, and trays. Adjustable and reconfigurable storage units can support patient care by:

• Optimizing workflows through and around supply areas, thereby reducing foot traffic
• Making organization easier and reducing the time it takes to access medical supplies
• Making it easier to find needed supplies, thereby reducing the number of steps staff take in a day
• Making supply access more efficient, thereby reducing the time it takes to react to patient emergencies
• Improving the patient experience with more efficient patient care
• Helping staff to spend more of their time at the bedside versus tracking down supplies

Safer Ergonomics

Low back pain is a common complaint among nurses. Current Medical Issues reported that more than 84% of nurses experience low back pain. 

Nurses spend most of their shift on the move, walking, pushing, pulling, and lifting, and may find it more challenging to access supplies stored just out of reach, increasing the risk of injury.

Storing supplies so that the most used devices are accessible without stooping or reaching can help reduce the risk of back or knee injuries. Modular storage units can help.

InnerSpace Evolve cabinets feature FlexCell interiors, a system of movable shelves, dividers, trays, and baskets that provide space for the most used supplies at an ergonomic level for most staff. 

Place frequently used supplies in the upper drawers of mobile medical carts to reduce the need for bending and stooping to reach supplies. Mobile medical carts can be fitted with accessories placed in an ergonomic position.  

Adjustable work surfaces enable staff to work and use laptops at a comfortable height. Accessory rails attached to carts allow staff to adjust accessories to their ideal location.

Lower Costs

Flexibility, efficient use of space, better patient care, and better ergonomics are some of the ways that modular casework, cabinets, and mobile carts can save healthcare dollars. 

The installation is less involved and takes less time than fixed units, translating to a smaller cost at initial purchase. The long-term usability of modular storage solutions means that you will not need to replace the units if your space needs to be moved or reconfigured. 

Innerspace offers accessories such as interior bins, shelves, and trays to help you configure their modular cabinets to meet your needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Modular healthcare storage solutions provide maximum flexibility and efficiency. 
• Provide safer and more efficient patient care with storage options that allow staff to organize supplies according to need and typical workflows. 
• Pack more into your storage space with high-density modular storage solutions.
• Configurable cabinet interiors and carts that accept multiple accessories placed at ergonomic heights reduce staff injuries that can occur when stooping and reaching.
• Keep costs low by investing in modular storage solutions that can be moved and reconfigured as your needs change.