400 Wall-Mounted Workstations at Centerpoint Medical Center

During the planning and design of Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri, Hospital Corporation of America decided to place computers in every patient room. The 258-bed Level II trauma facility wanted to improve efficiency while supporting patient safety and preserving face-to-face interaction between caregivers and patients.

Centerpoint ultimately deployed 400 Proximity Systems wall-mounted workstations in patient rooms, the emergency department, lounges, public areas and the human-resources department. After the hospital’s first year, the case study reported improvements in efficiency, record accuracy, communication, patient education and patient safety.

Project overview

• Facility: Centerpoint Medical Center, part of HCA
• Location: Independence, Missouri
• Facility description: 258-bed Level II trauma hospital
• Deployment: 400 wall-mounted workstations
• Locations: Patient rooms, emergency department, lounges, public areas and human resources
• Configuration: Customized multi-compartment workstations, swivel options and integrated medication cabinets
• Reported first-year benefits: Efficiency, record accuracy, communication, patient education, patient safety and low service demand

The objective: technology in every patient room

Centerpoint chose to wire each patient room based on patient-care needs, convenience and computer life. The in-room computers supported electronic medical-record workflows, including medication validation associated with the “right patient, right drug, right dose, right time” process described in the case study.

However, the planning team did not want technology to weaken the caregiver-patient relationship. The workstation position needed to let nurses review records and chart without turning away from the patient. Correct placement could move the computer into the background of the interaction rather than making it the center of attention.

Multi-compartment workstation configuration

Following an HCA product evaluation, Proximity Systems was selected as a wall-mounted workstation vendor for Midwest hospitals. Centerpoint used multi-compartment units customized around its needs.

The design separated the flat-panel monitor and keyboard from the CPU. Key features described in the case study included:

• A lockable upper or lower compartment protecting computer equipment.
• A monitor and keyboard that remained accessible for use.
• A workstation that opened when needed and closed to within inches of the wall.
• Swivel functionality to support face-to-face interaction in constrained rooms.
• An integrated medication cabinet for staff convenience and patient-care workflows.

Supporting communication and patient education

The swivel configuration allowed clinicians to orient the screen toward the patient. Nurses reported appreciating the ability to maintain face-to-face interaction.

Physicians later requested access to the hospital’s picture archiving and communication system, or PACS, on the in-room computers. With records and images available in the room, physicians could incorporate the screen into patient education and discussion. The workstation’s positioning allowed patients to view the information during those conferences.

This example shows how workstation placement can support two modes of interaction:

• The clinician can chart without turning away from the patient.
• The screen can become a shared educational surface when appropriate.

Reducing unnecessary trips

Centerpoint’s private patient rooms were relatively large, increasing the distance nurses traveled between patients and centralized work areas. The hospital considered computers on carts but rejected that approach based on wear experienced with mobile units in other facilities.

In-room computers and workstations reduced the need to return to the nurses’ station to chart, retrieve information or collect certain supplies. Hospital leadership reported that the efficiency objective had been achieved.

The source also cites an independent study claiming that Proximity workstations reduced nursing walking distance by up to 80%. That claim is related to the Rapid Modeling study summarized in Post 4, but the Centerpoint PDF does not provide a citation or demonstrate that an 80% reduction was measured at Centerpoint itself.

Extending the workstation beyond patient rooms

The space-saving design led Centerpoint to deploy wall-mounted stations in multiple environments:

• Patient rooms.
• Emergency rooms.
• Lounges.
• Public areas.
• The human-resources department.

In human resources, candidates used a workstation to apply online. When the computer was not needed, the station closed near the wall to release department space.

Coordinating technology with interior design

The new hospital placed significant emphasis on design. Wood construction and custom finishes allowed the workstation cabinetry to coordinate with furniture and contribute to a consistent visual environment.

For facility planners, workstation appearance should be reviewed alongside:

• Casework and furniture finishes.
• Wall colors and materials.
• Closed and open profiles.
• Cable concealment.
• Hardware and lock appearance.
• Cleanability and durability.

One-year customer observations

After one year, Centerpoint associated the workstations with time savings, reduced travel, record accuracy, communication and patient education. The facility also reported no product failures or quality issues during the period described, resulting in little or no workstation service time.

This is a customer observation from a particular deployment period. It is valuable case-study evidence but should not be converted into a universal reliability guarantee.

Lessons from the Centerpoint deployment

1. Plan technology and rooms together. Computer placement affects workflow and communication.
2. Keep the patient in the interaction. Swivel and screen orientation can support face-to-face care.
3. Bring appropriate tasks to the room. In-room charting and supplies may reduce centralized trips.
4. Use compact stations in multiple departments. Wall-mounted units can serve clinical and administrative applications.
5. Coordinate with the interior. Finish and construction influence the professional appearance of the hospital.
6. Measure outcomes locally. Track walking distance, charting time, downtime, user feedback and service requirements after deployment.

A hospital-wide point-of-care workstation strategy

Centerpoint Medical Center integrated 400 wall-mounted workstations throughout a new hospital rather than treating each computer as an isolated equipment decision. The project connected room design, EMR access, patient communication, medication workflows, space management and aesthetics in one workstation strategy.