Vocera Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VCRA), a recognised leader in clinical communication and workflow solutions, today announced that the Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates plans to standardise care team communication using Vocera technology. An expected enterprise-wide deployment of the Vocera smartphone app and the new Vocera Smartbadge is part of a strategic alignment aimed at improving care team collaboration, optimising operational efficiency, and elevating patient care and safety.
“Our partnership with Vocera and the implementation of the company’s unique solutions represents a breakthrough in our digital transformation,” said Dr. Kalthoom Al Balooshi, Director of Hospitals Department, Ministry of Health and Prevention. “Initial installation of the intelligent hands-free badges and communication platform exceeded our expectations. We are looking forward to expanding Vocera technology and standardising communication across all our hospitals.”
Al Qassimi Hospital is the first in the UAE to receive the Smartbadge, a wearable communication device that enables clinicians to make hands-free voice calls, send and receive secure messages, and manage clinical alerts and alarms. The hospital initially deployed the mobile device in its emergency department, where clinical staff reported faster access to consulting physicians, decreased evaluation times, and quicker follow-up testing and reporting of critical test results. Improved communication has also made it easier to locate available beds, which decreases wait times and improves patient flow and satisfaction.
“Feedback from our clinicians about the Vocera solution has been very positive. It is has helped them save valuable steps and time,” Dr. Al Balooshi said. “In addition to needing agility, our care teams needed a way to share patient information securely, and the Vocera Platform is the solution that is helping us solve this important issue.”
The Vocera Platform integrates with more than 140 clinical and operational systems, including electronic health records, nurse call systems, physiologic monitors, ventilators and real-time location systems. This interoperability connects the right information to the right people, which helps improve staff response times, reduce interruption and alarm fatigue, and mitigate cognitive load among clinicians.
“We are honored to be a strategic partner of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and an integral part of its digital roadmap for 2020 and beyond,” said Brent Lang, President and CEO of Vocera. “Our intelligent communication platform is ideal for simplifying clinical workflows, increasing operational efficiencies, and improving the well-being and safety of both patients and staff.”