Rover Devices Put Patient Safety at Staff Members’ Fingertips

Rover Devices Put Patient Safety at Staff Members' Fingertips

Published on October 30, 2026

By Jessica Morton

Patients and visitors at UNC Health Southeastern may notice staff members using devices that look like cell phones at the bedside. These hospital-owned Rover devices are clinical tools that give care teams secure, immediate access to the information and functions they need to provide safe, timely, and efficient care.

At the bedside, staff members can use a Rover device to scan a patient's identification armband, verify medications and dosages, review laboratory results and provider orders, and document care as it is delivered.

Before administering medication, for example, a nurse scans both the patient's armband and the medication to help confirm the right patient, medication, dose, and time. Staff will still ask patients to state their name and date of birth because this added verification is an important safety step.

Rover devices also allow staff to update the medical record near the point of care and communicate quickly with other members of the care team. Timely documentation helps physicians, nurses, and other clinicians understand a patient's current needs, coordinate next steps, and support smooth handoffs between caregivers.

The devices can be identified by the UNC Health logo on the case and are not personal cellphones. Their use reflects the organization's commitment to Carolina Care: safe, high-quality, and compassionate care built on clear communication, teamwork, and responsiveness to patients' needs.

Patients and families are encouraged to ask staff members how a Rover device is being used. The care team is always happy to explain how each step supports safe and efficient care.

Jessica Morton is the patient experience manager for UNC Health Southeastern. In addition to offering services you'd expect from a community healthcare system, UNC Health Southeastern provides several specialized services that are unique to our system and not available anywhere else in the region. To schedule an appointment, call our referral line at 984-974-CARE. To learn more, visit UNCHealthSE.org.