ARTICLES
Niagara Health Reduces Number of Injuries in Code White Emergencies by 20% – Staff Feel Safer While They Work By Sandy Traynor, Workplace Relations Manager at Niagara Health and Stevie Christopher, RPN, Information and Communications Technology System Analyst at Niagara Health
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ecently, in the emergency department (ED) of one of our hospital sites, a patient became combative with a front-line nurse. The nurse double-tapped the Call button on her Vocera Badge – a wearable communication device – to call a code white, alerting security staff instantly and discretely. The security team rushed to her location, able to hear what was happening on their way to the scene through the Badge, without the nurse needing to say a word to them. The nurse was unharmed. She said she was grateful she was wearing the Badge.
SEPT.OCT 2021
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Several years ago, when we were still using VoIP phones for communication, it would have been difficult or impossible for this nurse to call a code white in this threatening situation. Imagine someone needing to pick up a phone, dial a number, and ask for help while trying to defuse a situation or fend off an aggressor. This powerful story reminded us of why we use Vocera here at Niagara Health, a 949-bed, multi-site hospital organization in Ontario, Canada. We first deployed the Vocera Badge and mobile app that clinicians use on their personal smartphones in 2016. Staff who work in our EDs, mental health units, and medical floors across
THIS POWERFUL STORY REMINDED US OF WHY WE USE VOCERA HERE AT NIAGARA HEALTH, A 949-BED, MULTISITE HOSPITAL ORGANIZATION IN ONTARIO, CANADA.
