The Importance and Uses of Medical Castors

If you operate or work in a medical facility, you benefit from castors every day. You may not even realise how much easier they make your life, and the life of the patients you care for. Whether the casters are used on medical carts, gurneys, or even the carts used to move dirty dishes in the cafeteria, they are essential and offer many benefits

If you operate or work in a medical facility, you benefit from castors every day. You may not even realise how much easier they make your life, and the life of the patients you care for. Whether the casters are used on medical carts, gurneys, or even the carts used to move dirty dishes in the cafeteria, they are essential and offer many benefits, including:

• Ergonomics

• Ease of access and speed when securing a cart

• Modularity for various options, such as drawer and bin configurations

• Manoeuvrability

The more a cart or gurney possesses these benefits, the better the experience will be for you, and other health care professionals, and the easier it will be to perform your duties with ease. Let’s take a look at how each of these benefits you, and why they are so important to the world of medicine.

The Importance of Castors

•   Manoeuvrability- When it comes to manoeuvrability, castors are essential. High quality casters can ensure that any cart or gurney moves easily, no matter the size or weight of the cart or the condition of the flooring surface. The right casters will allow you to manoeuvre the cart or gurney, re-directing from its primary direction or turning it quickly to face a different patient.

• Mobility- In a hospital or nursing homes, carts and gurneys are needed to push a variety of things, like medicine, linens, and, of course, patients. When choosing casters for each of these, it is essential to consider the physics of the steering and mobility. Smaller casters will allow carts to move forward easier initially, while larger casters will allow carts and gurneys to move forward easier after they begin to roll. The type of castor chosen will determine the benefits obtained. For instance, a crash cart may be needed quickly, and choosing larger caster wheels will ensure it arrives on time.

• Options- Without caster wheels, there aren’t many options available with a cart. It can’t move, and because of this, drawers and bins are only appropriate on one side. When caster wheels are used, the options are limitless. You can store more items, because drawers can be accessed easily on both sides, and the carts can be moved anywhere.

• Ergonomics- Not convinced that trolley wheels make yours, and your medical teams’, lives easier? Think about all the back strain that would be present without it. You’d have to manually haul linens and machinery from one area to the next, and moving patients would be almost impossible. Trolley wheels save time and prevent workplace injuries from occurring.

Should You be Using Castor Wheels?

In the medical field, life would be almost impossible without the benefits obtained with castors. They help to prevent injuries in the workplace, offer options for more storage, increase manoeuvrability, and ensure patients and medical supplies reach their destination easily and at the necessary speed. The next time you push a gurney or a cart, consider the benefits listed here and take a moment to appreciate them and think about how much easier your life is because of them.