Healthcare System Administrators – Celebrating their Contributions to Optimizing Healthcare

July, 2022

System Administrators graphic

July 29, 2022, marks 23 years of celebrating System Administrator Appreciation Day, a day to honor those who work diligently to keep systems up and running, solve problems, and prevent disasters.

Healthcare system administrators are the backbone that enables clinical workflows to run seamlessly. They help improve healthcare outcomes by giving caregivers the tools that allow them to focus on providing the best patient care.

Some healthcare organizations have members of their staff dedicated to administrating their Vocera system. Others opt to have a Vocera employee manage their system. We appreciate and celebrate the hard work of all system administrators.

System Administrators as Heroes

Considered by many organizations as essential workers throughout the pandemic, healthcare system administrators helped optimize technology to support COVID-related workflows. Over the course of the pandemic, I have heard inspirational stories of Vocera system admins responding quickly to improve healthcare workers’ communication and collaboration – from setting up wireless access points in parking lot triage tents, to creating new roles and emergency response groups, to amplifying music through Vocera hands-free devices to thank hospital staff.

System Administrators as Innovators

One story in particular stands out. I was working from home and received a call from one of our system admins. Staff at a hospital in Denver, CO wanted to find a way to quickly connect COVID patients with their loved ones – these patients were in isolation and too weak to even hold a phone. The sys admin set up a workflow where a nurse could call a patient’s family member using their Vocera Smartbadge, and then transfer the call to the patient’s pillow speaker. Even if the patient couldn’t say much, it was comforting for the patient and their loved ones to be able to connect.

Throughout the past two years, I couldn’t be prouder of Vocera sys admins and how emotionally invested they are in the healthcare organizations they serve. I am moved by the impact of their proactive work and how their actions improve healthcare efficiencies, outcomes, and patient experiences.

As we adjust to operating in a post-COVID world, we must recognize and address the stress that has been put on healthcare workers. COVID-19 abruptly shook and overloaded the entire healthcare system, and drastically changed the way we view patient care today. We need to offer tools and resources to provide relief for all our healthcare heroes.

Vocera system administrators are a fantastic source for solving communication and collaboration challenges. I encourage healthcare leaders to involve sys admins in your next workflow optimization project, key performance indicator (KPI) initiative, department meeting, or even shift huddle. By bringing sys admins into these events, they can better understand process gaps and offer ways they can be improved with technology and allow clinicians to focus on patient care.

Vocera would love to hear stories about a healthcare system administrator that has made an impact on your organization. Please share your experience on social media using #MyVoceraStory and #SysAdminDay or reach out to me directly on LinkedIn