Royal Philips Electronics, one of the world’s largest producers of medical equipment, announced intention to join Intel Corp. in development of the so-called mobile clinical assistant (MCA) with the aim to start production of the Tablet PC for nurses and physicians in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The Philips MCA does not differ much in terms of capabilities from the one that Intel and Motion Computing test drive in several U.S. clinics and its technical specifications remain unclear. It is known that Philips’ MCA has 10.4” touch-screen with 1024x768 resolution, RFID and barcode scanning, Bluetooth, wireless LAN connectivity and a digital camera. The device is also water-resistant and durable enough to withstand knocks, drops and the general daily activities within the hospital, according to Philips.

The Philips MCA also comes with a feature to swap the long-life battery with a fresh one in the docking station without disrupting applications currently in use. The “grab-and-go docking station” has been designed not only to charge the device but also to use it as a back-office desktop device in combination with a mouse, keyboard and high-speed Ethernet connection, which basically makes the MCA as a fully-fledged PC.

The “medical grade compliance” allows usage of the Philips MCA in many clinical areas, including intensive care units and surgery theatres.

“Nurses are already busy enough today and every little step you can save is very important to them. The MCA embodies our brand promise – Sense and Simplicity. It marries technology with usability and is designed around the way healthcare professionals are working when visiting patients, giving it the potential to provide more real-time care for a better patient experience,” said Franco Martegani, chief executive of Philips FIMI – a global provider of medical displays and mobile point-of-care terminals.

The portable, always connected device is designed to require minimal training and provides significant benefits to the clinical users, helping to reduce medication errors, positively identify staff and patients, fill out charts, capture vital signs, write up reports and validate blood transfusions as well as the ability to closely monitor the healing of wounds.

The actual product is expected to be available in late 2007 for the approximate price of $2200.