A handheld computing device for use in hospitals, operating rooms, and
other medical care facilities. The handheld computing device includes a
processor, display, user interface, memory, one or more embedded
environmental sensors, and one or more scanners for reading identifier
codes that uniquely identify sterile and non-sterile supplies,
instruments and disposable components thereof and other inventory items
and supplies that are used in the course of a medical procedure such as
surgery. To manage the accounting of various items used in an operating
room for example, the handheld computing device is provided with an RF
tag reader and a barcode reader to read and identify medical items that
are used in the course of a medical procedure. In the course of scanning
such identifier codes, the handheld computing device receives inventory
accounting information that is stored within the memory of the device,
and which can be subsequently downloaded and transferred to one or more
external databases. Further, in one embodiment, the environmental sensors
may include temperature, humidity and pressure sensors that sense, record
and store temperature, humidity and pressure data.