Clinical environments are dynamic and ‘event driven’ workspaces in which clinicians must effectively communicate to make accurate healthcare-critical decisions. When healthcare professionals communicate effectively conveying critical information in a timely or easily understandable manner, they deliver safe and higher quality care. Clear and timely communication keeps the morale of the team up, while planning a busy day in the Emergency Department. Delays may occur if communication relies on identification of individuals through line of sight or use of telephones and pagers.
With the existing layout of majors, minors, clinical decision unit, fit to sit, pit stop and same day emergency care units in the Emergency Department, this inherits lots of physical obstruction (walls, cubicles, red areas and green areas etc) in communication via line of sight. With the staff always ‘on the go’ due to the busy nature of the department, making contact via departmental telephones to locate roaming staff members is near to impossible.
St Peter’s Hospital has chosen 2826 to provide VoCoVo wireless team communications to improve communication amongst staff in this dynamic and fast paced Emergency Department.
Stuart Young of 2826 Ltd commented “We are delighted to bring this excellent solution to St Peter’s Hospital. We’ve been working with VoCoVo for several years now and, as we’ve seen in other sectors, there are huge benefits for the healthcare sector. The implementation of this improved communication solution has already had a positive impact on patient care and we’re very proud to have been able to play a part in this important transition.”
2826 undertook a full audit with St Peter’s Hospital to understand their needs and challenges to put a solution in place that would provide clear and timely communications for staff. The team required quicker, reliable, and more efficient forms of communication in this fast paced, challenging, and often changing environment that addressed the following points…
St Peter’s Hospital recognised the critical need for an innovative solution to address the inherent challenges posed by the department’s physical layout, which included numerous obstructions that hindered line-of-sight communication and the perpetual motion of staff complicating use of stationary phones.
The primary requirements for a new communication system were clear: it needed to reduce delays in messaging, enhance the staff’s perception of communication flow, and incorporate hands-free operation to adhere to infection control measures while remaining prepared for future health threats. Additionally, the solution had to be scalable, with the potential for application in other hospital areas to rectify the inefficiencies tied to traditional bleep/pager systems and telephone-based communication.
2826 supplied St Peter’s Hospital with a range of VoCoVo wireless enabled hands-free communication headsets, which offer multiple conferences for Doctors/Consultants and Nursing staff. The solution was especially tailored to meet the needs of the busy Emergency Department connecting staff throughout. With VoCoVo’s hands free solution, communication has been hugely simplified reducing delay times and improving patient care.
"The implementation of this excellent solution has already illustrated how inter connectivity amongst staff members in the Emergency Department improves communication overall. We have already seen huge improvements and time savings, and expect this communication solution to have many positive impacts for staff and patients at our hospital.” - Dr Usman Mansoor Consultant EM (PEM) - St Peter's Hospital
