Hands-Free Tool for Caregiver Communication Now in Use at Little Falls Hospital

Vocera Communication System Streamlines Connectivity, Benefiting Patient Care and Promoting Staff Safety

Nurses, technologists, security officers, Emergency Department staff and other caregivers at Little Falls Hospital now have access to Vocera Smartbadges by Stryker. This communication system allows caregivers to make, receive, transfer, and forward calls and messages to other caregivers using only their voice.

Among many uses, Vocera can assist caregivers in reaching their colleagues quickly in any emergency situation. The hands-free nature of Vocera is especially helpful for caregivers in medical situations where strict personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene standards must be adhered to. Caregivers can communicate without having to leave the room and remove and reapply PPE.

Patients who are hospitalized are also able to use the system to call a nurse to their bedside to speak with them directly, often allowing for their needs to be met more quickly. The notifications on Vocera come with detailed context, so caregivers can accurately triage and properly prioritize patients. With Vocera, caregivers also have a direct line to security if they or their patients are ever in a situation where they need support.

"Effective, seamless communication is critical in a hospital setting. It is how our caregivers are able to collaborate effectively and efficiently. By embracing technology, the caregivers at Little Falls Hospital can remain focused on what matters most: their patients," said Heidi Camardello, Director of Nursing and Operations at Little Falls Hospital.

The purchase of the Vocera Communication System for Little Falls Hospital was made possible in part through support from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, Burrows Foundation, Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, and the Samuel S. Dale Memorial Trust. Grant applications were led by Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network, the nonprofit organization dedicated to providing philanthropic support for Bassett Healthcare Network.

"A rural hospital, like Little Falls Hospital, is at its best when it has the support of its community and we are so grateful for the foundations, trusts, and organizations that stand behind us. They strengthen us as we support our caregivers and fulfill our mission to provide top notch care," said Susan Oakes Ferrucci, DNP, MSN, RN, CNS, President of Little Falls Hospital and Chief Hospital Executive of Bassett Healthcare Network's Critical Access Hospitals.

Little Falls Hospital is Herkimer County's only provider of acute inpatient and 24/7 emergency medical care. As a Critical Access Hospital, it provides healthcare services in an underserved area to patients who would otherwise have to travel far to receive care. It has been in operation for over 130 years.

Bassett Healthcare Network already utilizes Vocera at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown and A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta. The network hopes to bring Vocera or a similar system to O'Connor Hospital in Delhi and Cobleskill Regional Hospital in Cobleskill in the future.