Waterloo Healthcare Newsletter – December 2024

When it comes to choosing a procedure cart for healthcare environments, the debate between plastic and metal carts – particularly aluminum – is a critical one. Aluminum procedure carts consistently emerge as the superior choice, outpacing plastic carts in terms of hygiene, durability, weight, flexibility, and environmental impact. Here’s why aluminum is the clear choice for modern healthcare settings.

Capacity and Weight

The thickness required for plastic carts to match the durability of aluminum reduces their overall storage capacity. Thicker plastic walls mean less internal space for supplies, which can lead to inefficiencies in a busy healthcare environment. Aluminum carts, however, use thinner materials to achieve strength, resulting in larger, more practical storage spaces. Additionally, aluminum carts are lighter than comparably-sized plastic carts. This reduced weight eases the strain on healthcare staff who need to move the carts frequently, enabling faster response times in critical situations.

Customization and Versatility

Aluminum procedure carts also offer greater flexibility for customization. Unlike plastic carts, which have fixed accessory mounting points, aluminum carts allow for custom mounting locations without voiding warranties. This adaptability is especially valuable in healthcare settings, where equipment needs can vary greatly between departments or even individual practitioners. Whether adding sharps containers, glove boxes, power strips, IV poles, Defibrillator shelves, or specialized attachments, aluminum carts provide the flexibility to meet diverse needs.  Using only a screwdriver, you can add most accessories to an aluminum cart.

Hygiene and Maintenance

Hygiene is of the utmost importance in any healthcare setting. Aluminum carts have smooth, non-porous surfaces, which make them easy to disinfect using hospital-grade cleaners like diluted bleach, CaviWipes, Clorox Bleach Germicidal Wipes, and PDI Super Sani-Cloth®. This flexibility allows staff to maintain higher hygiene standards, reducing the risk of infection spread.

In contrast, plastic procedure carts often have textured surfaces, which can harbor bacteria and pathogens even after cleaning. To add to this disadvantage, many plastic carts are limited to mild soap and water for cleaning, as stronger cleaners may damage the plastic. This cleaning restriction is far from practical in environments that require rigorous disinfection protocols.  Although many plastic manufacturers incorporate anti-microbial compounds into their plastics to offset the porous (Infection prone) nature of plastic, they state that the materials used are not anti-bacterial and, therefore, are not effective against MRSA and other bacterial infection risks that hospitals are focused on avoiding.

Longevity and Aesthetic Durability

Metal carts are fully welded, providing a more durable work platform.  By comparison, plastic carts require clips and other mounting hardware to connect plastic components to the metal structure of the cart.  These connection points are not as durable as a welded connection and can reduce the lifespan of a plastic cart in a hospital environment.  Many plastic carts only carry a one-year warranty while metal carts tend to have a 5-year warranty.

Plastic carts are also prone to discoloration over time, especially with frequent use and exposure to sunlight and disinfectants. This fading and staining can make the carts look old and worn, necessitating earlier replacement. Aluminum carts, on the other hand, retain their original appearance for years without discoloring. They are also resistant to scratches and scuffs, maintaining a professional appearance even after years of use.

Environmental Impact

Aluminum procedure carts are significantly more environmentally friendly than their plastic counterparts. Aluminum is 100% recyclable, meaning that old or damaged carts can be recycled fully rather than ending up in landfills.