Technology within Hospitals

Juana Castro, Nathan Rike & Paige Murphy

Sandi Hubnik | ENGL 2311| Technical & Business Writing
23 April 2018

Communication Technology within

Hubnik Medical Consolidated
 Table of Contents

List of Table and Figures iii

Abstract iv
Introduction 1
Purpose 1
Problem 1
Description 2
Benefits 2
Convenience 3
Cost 3
Features 4
Concerns 5
Conclusion 6
Glossary 6
Works Cited 7
 List of Table and Figures

Figure 1 Vocera Badge B3000 Series…………………………………………………………………..2

Figure 2 The Vocera Platform…………..………………………………………...…………………….3

Table 1 SEQ Cost Table…………….…………………………………………………………………..4

Figure 3 Apple Watch…………….……………………………………………………………….……5

 Abstract
Hubnik Medical Consolidated is a leader in utilizing the latest in medical technology to improve
efficiency in many areas. The research team has uncovered the fact that HMC has overlooked
updating communication technologies for past fifteen years. In order for HMC to remain
competitive in medical technologies, it is the team’s recommendation that HMC adopt the
Vocera communications platform in its hospitals. This trusted company has proven to be a
reliable innovator within the field of medical communication technology. This partnership will
allow HMC to improve in communication and aid in streamlining patient services from the point
of admission til point of discharge.
 Introduction

Purpose
This report will show that Hubnik Medical Consolidated can become a leader in medical
communication technology by partnering with Vocera Communications Inc. There will be
detailed discussion and dissection of the products that can help with the communication and
technology problems HMC’s hospitals are having today. Vocera offers solutions to those
problems. The team will show the benefits of the products along with the security and
convenience of having these devices at the workplace. The team will discuss the cost, efficiency,
features, and potential concerns hospitals and associates may have with the devices. Lastly, this
report will summarize why HMC will improve
by adding Vocera Communication devices to their hospitals.

Problem
In the majority of hospitals, including the ones Hubnik Medical Consolidated administers,
communication is a major issue. For nurses, doctors, and other staff, messages aren't always
communicated clearly; sometimes they are not even received at all. These gaps in
communication can cause many liability issues related to patients’ protected health information
along with other issues within a hospital setting such as backlogs and logistical problems. If there
were an instance, for example, where a patient had a certain reaction to a medication, clear
communication within and between shifts is important to ensure the patient’s health and safety.
Poor communication technology can lead to errors that can result is patient injury or even death,
which damages HMC’s reputation and leaves it vulnerable to potential legal action. In order to
prevent these problems, Hubnik Medical Consolidated needs to implement modern
communication technologies throughout its hospitals to increase the speed and accuracy of
communication. The team proposes that HMC partner with Vocera Communications to
implement the latest communication technology within HMC hospitals. This partnership will
enable HMC to maintain its position as a leader in all fields of medical technology, including
communication.
 Description
Vocera Communications Inc. has a line of hands-free devices that could solve communication
issues at Hubnik Medical Consolidated: the Vocera Badge B3000 series. This badge allows
interpersonal communication between
nurses and doctors about patients’
progress. The Vocera badge is a
communication platform indeed, but it
offers more than just a way to
communicate, but rather a way to be
efficient in the workplace. (Vocera) This
system allows integration across all
scopes of communication and allows
versatility depending on who the user is
around and how the user decides to use

Figure 1: Vocera Badge B3000 Series

https://www.healthitoutcomes.com/doc/vocera-hands-free-badge-0001
the badge. If one user is helping a patient,
there is a way to use a lanyard around the neck, making the badge hands-free or if the user needs
to contact someone privately, there is a way to use the badge as a handset.(Vocera). In order to
communicate with anyone in particular, all a user needs to do is simply tap the center of the
badge; this provides call routing incredibly simplistic. (Vocera)

Benefits
● Portability and Mobility
The Vocera B3000 is very light, weighing less than 2 oz. It has only one button and is voice
controlled. It uses dual band 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz wireless technology, which can be easily
integrated into the already established wireless communication system at Hubnik Medical
Consolidated. The Vocera Badge can be worn on clothing with a small clip or a lanyard around
the neck. These two accessories allow for a hands-free usage of the device and allow for greater
mobility for the user. (Vocera)
● Security
The Vocera B3000 can be turned on via voice recognition, ensuring the security of users.
(Vocera) This secure function allows for multiple users to handle the same Vocera Badge and to
pass to another user at the end of a shift. This allows the new user to log into the Vocera system
from the Vocera Badge and immediately begin using it. (Vocera)
● Durability
The Vocera B3000 uses a structured design that is rigid through the spine of the device that
allows durability regardless of the environment a potential user could be in. (Vocera)

● Antibacterial
Vocera B3000 uses BioCote technology to provide antimicrobial protection of its devices.
BioCote uses antimicrobial additives to inhibit the growth of microorganisms through cell
disruption, DNA interference, oxidative damage, and protein damage.(How)

Figure 2: The Vocera Platform

https://www.vocera.com/microsite/secure-integrated-healthcare-communication

Convenience
Vocera badges offer team collaboration without having to set time aside and have a meeting; this
is convenient for busy hospitals who don’t necessarily have time to sit down and discuss
something, it can occur right at the fingertips while improving staff productivity. Anyone in the
healthcare field who relies heavily on technology inside and outside of work is able to use the
convenience of voice-activated technology. This technology allows ease of use and doesn’t
interfere with the security and critical data that anyone is discussing on the badges. Lastly, the
B3000 is able to integrate with clinical alert and alarm systems, allowing easy access to urgent
notifications throughout the hospital. The Vocera badge has been proven to increase patient
safety and overall care experience throughout many hospital settings (Medical).
Cost
The initial cost of acquiring the Vocera Badges will be assumed by Hubnik Medical
Consolidated. By assuming the cost of the badges, HMC will gain cost savings through bulk
buying for all of its entities. This strategy also benefits the employees as they will not have to
pay out-of-pocket for the device or assume any activation costs for wireless services. However, a
policy of charging employees the cost to replace lost or damaged devices has been found to be
the most effective method to ensure that devices are treated with care and respect.

For the 2,000 employees for HMC’s largest hospital, an estimated list of items used in a Vocera
communications system is outlined below based upon two contracts found in the public records
of Santa Clara County and the state of Ohio respectively (Approve, Ohio). This list is meant as a
general guideline for estimating approximate costs; Vocera operates on a contract-based service
and specific pricing will be negotiated with Vocera when HMC adopts this system.

Item Quantity Unit Cost Total Cost

B3000n Black Badge 1,000 $410 $410,000

B3000 charger, 8-bay 125 $320 $40,000

B3000, Universal Clip, 25-Pack 40 $85 $3,400

B3000, Double-Breakaway Lanyard, 25-Pack 40 $140 $5,600

Vocera End User Training Kit 1,000 $10 $10,000

Vocera Standard License, 450 Users 2 $115,000 $230,000

Vocera Standard License, 150 Users 1 $45,000 $45,000

Vocera Premier Support Services for

1 $4,200 $4,200
750-User VMI Module License

Vocera Premier Support Services for

1 $2,500 $2,500
300-User VMI Module License
Features
● Badge
As previously discussed in this research report, Vocera Communications Inc. provides a base
model badge, the B300, which the majority of the hospitals our team has researched use. This
badge is a great hands-free option of the Vocera platform, to ensure easy-to-use ability from any
user. It also contains dual-band wifi radio, providing instant connectivity to deliver high-quality
voice recognition. Lastly, the Vocera badge is able to integrate with more than 100 clinical
systems, including calling nurses/doctors and heart-rate monitors via alert systems throughout
the hospitals. (The Vocera)
● Smartphones
Vocera also offers another user-friendly devices which meet the hospital’s technological needs.
The devices include smartphones such as the Zebra TC51-HC and the Zebra MC40-HC. The
first model smartphone is the MC40-HC. The MC40 provides Wi-Fi connectivity as well as
high-definition sound performance, which allows for high quality voice recognition with the
Vocera B3000 Badge. The newer mobile phone, the TC51-HC, adds a larger display screen,
improved barcode capture for prescriptions, faster intel processing, front-facing camera for
telemedicine, and the ability to run other healthcare applications simultaneously.(Zebra TC51)
This smartphone is able to add the security, conformance, wireless connection, and data capture
that healthcare needs to excel.(Zebra)
● Applications
The Vocera app for Apple Watch allows yet another
hands-free way to access all the user’s information. The
user is able to answer alerts and messages in real-time.
The user is able to interact with other team members,
thru messages and alert systems. This app also allows a
way to create a safer environment by initiating panic
calls in emergency situations.(App)

Figure 3: Apple Watch

https://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/feature/Health-IT-innovation-spotlight-Vocera-Communicati
on-Badge
Concerns
There have been a few concerns about the Vocera communication platform devices, but such
issues can be fixed quickly. It is reported that there is no order of priority for the urgent messages
given on the badges. This lack of priority means that there is the same urgency message to a
patient needing water versus a patient going into cardiac arrest. This could cause a few issues,
but nothing that Vocera hasn’t already proposed an update on. Some of the devices have reported
that there is no synchronization. This entails that if one nurse sends a message at a certain time,
the message may not get to the receiver at the same time. If this was a emergency, this could be
an issue, but this has only happened on a few occasions. Lastly, some hospitals have reported
that there is interference with other medical devices when using smartphones. The message could
interfere with a heart monitor, which could throw off the readings perhaps, but this has been
reported only in hospitals with high electrical frequencies (The Effects). These issues can be
corrected with a periodic update in software.

Conclusion
Hubnik Medical Consolidated has always worked to achieve excellence in medical services.
HMC has been frequently recognized as a leader in the medical field. This team has found an
area where HMC is able to improve itself through communication technology. By partnering
with Vocera, a leading communication technology company that specializes in medical
solutions, HMC can bring its communication technologies back to the cutting edge of the field
and maintain it for decades to come.

Glossary
Antimicrobial:​ an agent that inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
HIPAA:​ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; this act restricts access to
individuals' private medical information and requires certain security measures be implemented
by those with access to protected medical information.
Hubnik Medical Consolidated:​ The administrative group in the DFW area that oversees four
previously independent hospitals to ensure proper funding and administration of these hospitals.
Microorganisms​: a living creature too small to be seen with the naked eye; microorganisms are
responsible for the spread of many communicable diseases in the hospital setting
Vocera Communications, Inc.:​ a communications technology company that provides mobile
communication solutions for hospital staff and mobile workers across diverse organizations
Vocera B3000 series:​ the line of Vocera badges that is recommended for implementation.
 Works Cited
“How Antimicrobial Technology Works | BioCote Ltd.” ​BioCote​, BioCote, 24 Nov. 2017,
www.biocote.com/how-antimicrobial-technology-works/​.
“App for Apple Watch.” ​Vocera​, 12 Apr. 2018, ​www.vocera.com/watch​.
“Approve Fourth Amendment to Agreement with Vocera Communications, Inc., Relating to
Providing Maintenance, Software Support and Equipment for the Vocera Voice
Communications System, with No Change to the Maximum Contract Amount of
$3,575,000, and No Change to the Term of the Agreement, That Has Been Reviewed and
Approved by County Counsel as to Form and Legality.” ​Approve Fourth Amendment to
Agreement with Vocera Communications, Inc.​, 25 Apr. 2017,
sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=85813&highlightTerms=vocera​.
“Improve Care Team Communication.” ​Vocera​, 12 Apr. 2018,
www.vocera.com/industry-solution/improve-care-team-communication​.
Kearns, Madelyn. “Medical Practice Insider.” ​Vocera Collaboration Suite: Convenience via
Voice and Text | Medical Practice Insider​, 14 July 2013,
www.medicalpracticeinsider.com/news/vocera-collaboration-suite-convenience-voice-an
d-text​.
Ohio Department of Administrative Services. “Current Contract Detail.” ​State of Ohio
Procurement​, ​procure.ohio.gov/proc/viewContractsAwards.asp?contractID=34183​.
Richardson, Joshua E, and Joan S Ash. “The Effects of Hands-Free Communication Device
Systems: Communication Changes in Hospital Organizations.” ​Journal of the American
Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA​, BMJ Group, 2014,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995638/​.
“The Vocera Badge.” ​Vocera​, 24 Apr. 2017, ​www.vocera.com/microsite/badge​.
“Vocera B3000n Communication Badge.” ​Vocera​, 21 Apr. 2017,
www.vocera.com/resource/vocera-b3000n-communication-badge​.
“Vocera Badge.” ​Vocera​, 12 Apr. 2018,​ ​www.vocera.com/product/vocera-badge​.
“Vocera Communications.” ​Crunchbase​, 28 Mar. 2016,
www.crunchbase.com/organization/vocera-communications​.
“Zebra TC51-HC.” ​Vocera​, 12 Aug. 2017, ​www.vocera.com/product/zebra-tc51-hc​.
“Zebra MC40-HC Smartphone.” ​Vocera​, 12 Apr. 2018,
www.vocera.com/product/zebra-mc40-hc-smartphone​.