Medical Carts Market Analysis By Product (Mobile Computing Cart, Wall-Mounted Workstations, Medication Carts, Medical Storage Columns, Cabinets, & Accessories), By Type, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global medical carts market was valued at USD 1.28 billion in 2016 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 15.2% during the forecast period. Rising incidence of musculoskeletal injury (MSI) and growing adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) in hospitals are key contributors to market growth. Increasing adoption of mobile carts can be attributed to the availability of technologically advanced products that offer better configuration, construction, options, and features to meet requirements of consumers.

To offer hassle-free care to patients, selection of appropriate mobile carts is crucial. For example, demand for small-handled devices is increasing to streamline routine clinical workflows, including medication recording, supplies used for fluid administration, and detailed documentation of inpatient admissions.

Growing need to help medical and surgical staff is expected to propel market growth over the forecast period. On the surgical floor, a secure medication cart coupled with a tablet PC is more convenient than using a separate medication and computer cart. This saves space as well as cost. Critical care units have limited floor space and can benefit from such solutions. As a result, demand for medical carts in these units is expected to increase over the forecast period.

The emergence of telemedicine/telehealth and availability of technologically advanced medical carts are among factors contributing to market growth. These products improve nursing efficiency and this helps in better caregiving to patients. Rise in demand for point-of-care diagnostic technology is also a key growth driver.

Product Insights

Mobile computing carts held the dominant revenue share in 2016 owing to high adoption by hospitals. Technologically advanced mobile computing carts have a battery-operated system consisting of a lithium iron phosphate battery. In addition, changing ergonomics and advanced designs for mobile medical carts are expected to boost demand over the forecast period. Vendors are focusing on development of easy-to-implement technologies to gain an edge over their competition.

Increasing emphasis on improving nursing efficiency, growing need to curtail hospital costs, and rising importance of quick and easy accessibility to critical medical supplies and equipment in hospitals are some of the factors contributing to the high adoption of mobile computing carts.

Furthermore, supportive government initiatives for the adoption of EMR and telehealth services in hospitals are contributing to the dominance of the segment in the market for medical carts. Increase in adoption of EMR such as Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) and Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) to prevent medication errors is anticipated to propel market growth.

Type Insights

Medical carts are of various types: anesthesia, emergency, procedure and treatment, and others. Emergency medical carts accounted for the largest revenue share in 2016. This can be attributed to higher usage in emergency care units. As patients in emergency care units are more susceptible to infections, demand for these carts is expected to increase in the coming years.

Emergency medical carts are easy to clean and are equipped with medical devices or drugs used in case of emergencies such as cardiac arrest. Advancements such as improved mobility, lighter weight designs, and enhanced ergonomics are expected to boost the adoption of these medical carts over the forecast period.

The procedure segment is expected to gain popularity in the coming years due to consistent usage of these carts in several hospital settings. These products are very helpful in operating procedures, such as cardiology and endoscopy, and provide access to essential therapeutics. These benefits are anticipated to propel the growth of the segment in future. 

End-use Insights

Hospitals are the largest end users of medical carts. Availability of technologically advanced and mobile medical workstations is driving their adoption. These advancements include adjustable, secure, and efficient systems for medication delivery.

Increasing focus on patient engagement and promotion of EHR incentive programs in hospitals to encourage patient involvement are among factors anticipated to propel the demand for medical carts in this segment.

Adoption of these workstations in physicians’ offices or standalone clinics is expected to witness a steady rise in the coming years. This can be attributed to increase in awareness and demand for one-stop solutions that take up less space and can be used for various medical needs. As these carts help in carrying medicines, medical equipment, computers, and storage cabinets, their adoption in clinics is expected to register significant growth over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest revenue share in 2016 and is anticipated to register an exponential CAGR in the coming years. Presence of streamlined healthcare operations – from hospital admissions to reimbursements – and availability of integrated healthcare IT systems to maintain EHR are some of the factors contributing to the region’s dominance in the market for medical carts.

Medical device manufacturers in this region are focusing on developing advanced medical carts on wheels to meet customer demand. For this, companies are changing their product portfolio to include new technologically advanced products such as clinical workstations with batteries, security drawers, and automated dispensing systems.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness lucrative growth as manufacturers in this region are focusing on developing low-cost devices with higher efficiency. In addition, global players are investing in local companies owing to low costs of labor and raw materials.

Competitive Insights

The market is fragmented in nature, with the presence of several small and large manufacturers. Some of the key market participants are AFC Industries; Ergotron, Inc.;Enovate Medical; JACO, Inc.; Advantech Co., Ltd.; Harloff Manufacturing Co.;Medline Industries, Inc.; Hergo Ergonomic Support Systems, Inc.; and Performance Health.

Companies are adopting strategies such as product innovation, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and regional expansion to gain an edge over their competition. Furthermore, increasing demand from hospitals for advanced healthcare IT solutions to enhance patient care and safety is anticipated to propel the market over the forecast period.

Product launch strategies adopted by companies are anticipated to boost competition. For instance, Ergotron, Inc. launched a new powered medical workstation to help nursing staff, who are more susceptible to musculoskeletal injuries. In addition, increasing collaborative strategies to expand the portfolio of clinical carts to deliver cost-efficient healthcare are among factors contributing to market growth.

Report Scope

Segments covered in the report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global medical carts market on the basis of product, type, end use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Mobile Computing

    • By Application

      • Documentation

      • Equipment

      • Medication Delivery

      • Telehealth Workstation

      • Others

    • By Energy Source

      • Powered

      • Nonpowered

  • Wall-Mounted Workstations

  • Medication

  • Storage Columns, Cabinets, & Accessories

  • Others

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Anesthesia

  • Emergency

  • Procedure

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Hospitals

  • Ambulatory Surgical Centers

  • Physician Offices or Clinics

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India  

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East and Africa

    • South Africa