'Star Trek' communicators free up doctors' time
Summary
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The network, which is supplied by Vocera and is accessed by a pendant-like device, has been installed at the Royal Victoria Hospital Emergency Department in December 2007.
The department's doctors, nurses, ward clerks, bed managers and medical secretaries all use the devices to contact other staff by stating their name or function. As a result, medical professionals at the hospital are spending less time trying to find a phone line or leaving the premises to call up their peers.
In a study of the roll out conducted by Kinetic Consulting, 40 per cent of doctors and 60 per cent of nurses reported fewer interruptions while providing care for patients.
In a statement, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said: "This study has allowed us to evaluate where we need to develop our communications. The advantage for us is having a system in place to continue the progression and patients are seeing better service as a result. Through the use of technology our staff can do their jobs more efficiently."
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like the greatest thing ever! But when you start using it
you quickly realize that it has many problems. For one
thing it has very poor reception, in most places in the
hospital it didn't work including the elevators where I
found myself many times missing a call. Also the voice
recognition is horrible! Many times I would have to repeat
myself three to four times and sometimes still not work. I
was not impressed with the product and many times I
would find myself still using a phone anyway. If they
improved the technology this would really be a great time
saver.
It is able to learn your speech pattern.
It can also be used as a walkie talkie that will connect you directly to your group.
I think it is great to use.
Beam me up!!
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