Digital X-Ray Viewing for Tight Spaces

In most Chiropractic and small clinic offices floor space is a premium luxury. To keep monthly rent and lease payments affordable you have to squeeze as many services as possible into the smallest space in your office. Many times, you are forced to get double duty out of one room. Adjustment or procedure rooms get used as dressing or waiting areas while office and clerical duties are performed in kitchens and breakrooms. This is especially true when it comes to the x-ray room in many practices. Since x-rays are not performed continuously throughout the day, these rooms are typically small and quite often used for other services such as massage, adjustments, and procedures. In the days of film developing, this was further complicated by the need for a darkroom. Most x-ray rooms had a darkroom located adjacent to or down the hall from x-ray. You had to leave the patient unattended while you went to develop a series of x-rays. This also took up valuable floor space.

Thanks to the advent of digital imaging, you can now expose the patient and view images in a matter of seconds without leaving the room. Very quick and convenient except for one problem. Where to put the viewing workstation computer, monitor, mouse and keyboard in a room that’s already packed with equipment and furniture.

Most control booths are just wide enough to accommodate the control station /generator and operator. This lack of space does not allow room for a workstation and viewing components. If you choose to place the workstation in the now unused darkroom down the hall, you have to leave your patient unattended. This adds extra time to the exam and you lose the use of the old darkroom that could be utilized for other services.

Recently we had a customer with this very common dilemma. The x-ray control booth was too small for the workstation. The x-ray room had some extra space, but it was also being used for adjustments so permanently mounting the workstation on a wall would eliminate the real estate needed for the adjusting table. After some considerable thought, a solution was formed. Why not mount the workstation to a mobile cart that could be rolled into the area when it was needed and then rolled out of the way after all x-rays were complete? The customer agreed to purchase a mobile workstation. This one item would allow the computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse to be mounted on a rolling cart. The cart can be rolled into the x-ray work area during exposures and used for image manipulation as well as viewing and consultation with the patient. After the exam is complete it can be rolled out of the way. With a long enough power cord, it can even be rolled out of the x-ray room and into the hallway.

The workstation we used is height adjustable for both sit or standing positions. It has several layout options and adjustable surfaces to fit most any individual style or size. The computer rests on a lower shelf which gets it off the floor, minimizing dust and dirt being drawn into the CPU via cooling fans. Since the whole system is on wheels it facilitates cleaning underneath by simply rolling it out of the way for vacuum or mopping.

The mobile cart is reasonably priced. This was a great solution to a very difficult problem of not enough space for the equipment that needed to be installed. Z&Z Medical is known for their “thinking outside the box” and helping customers with solutions! If you have a problem, need some advice on solutions, or want to talk with someone about equipment upgrades, please reach out to us at info@zzmedical.com . We would love to work with you!