Hands-free communication to free up nursing time

Pemmasani V et al (2014) Hands-free communication to free up nursing time.
Nursing Times; 110: 13, 12-14. The design of a hospital, including how the
beds are spaced and where clinical areas and supplies are located, affects the
amount of time staff spend walking around wards instead of spending time
with patients providing direct clinical care. A number of technological solutions are emerging that have the potential to reduce unnecessary walking and give nurses more time to spend with patients. One is the Vocera, a hands-free mobile voice communication system. This article discusses whether this device reduces the average distance staff walk during a shift and their experiences of using it. The study was undertaken on a 32-bed ward with all single-room en-suite accommodation. The distance staff walked
reduced by an average of 19.8% when the device was used. However, semi-structured interviews showed that signal reception and voice recognition need further development. This study adds to a growing body of evidence that hands-free communication devices free up nursing time by increasing
the effectiveness and efficiency of communication on inpatient wards.