Vocera Press Releases

Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Installs Vocera Communications System to Enhance Patient Treatment

Hands-free voice communications system provides exceptional service to staff and patients and contributes to hospital winning top IT awards

Belfast (June 30, 2006) — The Royal Hospitals announced today that it will consolidate its communication processes to improve patient care and staff satisfaction by using the Vocera Communications System, by Worldwide Solutions. This cutting-edge solution forms an integral part of the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children’s (RBHSC’s) new wireless voice and data infrastructure which has just been recognized as the Best Enterprise Deployment for the public sector at the prestigious Wireless Broadband Innovation Awards 2006 and Public Sector Project of the Year at the Techworld Awards 2006.

Seventy-five healthcare staff working in RBHSC’s Barbour Ward will use the Vocera solution, which simplifies communication processes through a combination of the Vocera System Software and Vocera Communications Badges. The badge, weighing less than 2 ounces, can be clipped to a shirt pocket or collar, or worn on a lanyard, enabling instant, hands-free voice communication. By simply pressing a button on the badge and asking the system to call by name, title, or function, staff will be instantly connected to the resources or colleagues they need anywhere in the hospital’s wireless environment. Combining the leading-edge technologies of Wireless LAN (WiFi), Voice over IP (VoIP), and speech recognition, Vocera allows users to communicate, make decisions, and act quickly anytime, anywhere within a wireless environment.

“Vocera will be a huge asset to our staff,” said Paul Duffy, IT Manager, Royal Hospitals. “Nurses are especially excited about this solution because they will save time tracking down staff and resources and will be able to spend more time with patients.”

Before using the Vocera Communications System, staff used a variety of communication tools such as landline telephones, radios, pagers, and mobile phones. Each of these tools proved ineffective, as they could not be used in conjunction with one another. The Vocera Communications System resolves this issue by allowing staff to instantly contact all relevant personnel by using one device.

“We expect three immediate advantages of using Vocera’s hands-free devices: time-saving, cost-cutting, and better call management,” notes Dave Riley, Managing Director of Worldwide Solutions, which served as Vocera’s implementation partner and which worked with Telindus a company that ensured the wireless network was fully optimized for the Vocera Communications System. “The nursing staff will not have to walk so far during shifts, patients will be moved from high cost areas in the hospital to other wards more swiftly, and calls to the hospital switchboard will be reduced.”

“We are already delighted with our Vocera Communications System,” continued Duffy. “Installing Vocera on our wireless LAN was definitely one of the major factors in attaining the Best Enterprise Deployment for the public sector award at the Wireless Broadband Innovation Awards last month. Because of this success, we hope to install Vocera not just within the Royal Hospital, but throughout the Trust.”

About Vocera Communications
Vocera Communications provides wireless communications systems enabling instant voice communication among mobile workers to leading institutions and companies requiring enhanced customer service, productivity, and teamwork. The company, with sales offices in the United Kingdom and Australia, serves its global customer base from its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. For more information, please contact the company at, 01189 036160 or visit the Web site at www.vocera.com
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About Worldwide Solutions
Worldwide Solutions is a certified supplier of mobility solutions, including; data capture systems, bar coding equipment, labelling solutions, RFID, voice over IP, wireless networks, peripherals and services. Their reputation for excellence has been built upon strong technical support and superior customer service in a wide range of sectors from Retail through to Healthcare. The company is an official Vocera UK Reseller, for more information contact 01527 870 849, visit the Web site: www.wwsolutions.co.uk or email: vocera@wwsolutions.co.uk

About The Royal Hospitals
The Royal Hospitals is Northern Ireland's biggest and best known hospitals complex. Almost all the regional, medical, surgical and dental speciality services are provided here.

Approximately two thirds of the Northern Ireland population live within 40 minutes travel from the 70 acre site which is situated only a few minutes drive from Belfast city centre.

Made up of four linked hospitals - the Royal Victoria, Royal Jubilee Maternity Service, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and the Dental Hospital - the Royal treats more than half a million people every year and has a worldwide reputation for excellence.

About The Techworld Awards
The Techworld Awards, now in its 12th year, recognises and rewards industry vendors and service providers who have delivered excellent products and solutions over the course of each year. The independent panel of judges is made up of professionals from leading associations, top consultancies, private and public sector organisations and key technology editors from Techworld.com

Contact:
Jan Rasmussen
Fleishman-Hillard
(816) 512-2238
rasmussj@fleishman.com

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