June 20, 2005

Regions Hospital improves patient care with instant, wireless voice communication technology
New Vocera Communications ® device enables nursing staff to communicate with one another without leaving a patients bedside

St. Paul, Minn., -- Regions Hospital has discovered a new way to improve the safety of its patients and staff through the use of an innovative voice technology system from Vocera Communications. Referred to as the "Vocera badge," the device also saves steps and time for busy personnel, while offering a substantial cost savings for the hospital. The lightweight badge is worn on a lanyard, offers virtually hands-free operation and enables instant voice communication over a wireless network. Regions expects to be the first hospital in Minnesota to begin a hospital-wide rollout of the device, led by the Consulting & Systems Integration business of BT, of Arden Hills.

"This communications mechanism is all about improving patient safety and satisfaction, and we feel it will play a part in our vision to become the patient-centered hospital of choice in our community," said Judy Moseley, vice president of patient services at Regions Hospital. "The nursing staff quickly adopted the voice-activated device, because it's easy to use, it's a significant step-saver, and they can respond to patients in a more timely manner."

With one touch of a button and various voice commands, nursing staff are instantly connected with one another. This can increase patient safety by allowing nurses to get additional assistance for a patient in need or crisis without leaving the patient's bedside to search for help. Also, when a nurse needs to speak with a physician about a patients condition, the physician will return the page by phone, and he or she will be directly connected to the nurse through the Vocera system, minimizing wait times for new orders. Furthermore, the device can reduce nursing staff injuries, because they can call for assistance rather than trying to help a patient without proper support.

The Vocera devices will help Regions improve the timeliness and effectiveness of communication between caregivers and may even help to reduce patient falls. These are two of the National Hospital Safety Goals for 2005 identified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

The Vocera badge was piloted earlier this year by about 100 staff members across shifts in a trauma unit and a medical surgery unit. The pilot supported expectations of increased productivity of mobile personnel, and when the number of overtime hours fell by as much as 67 percent, Regions Hospital also saw substantial cost savings due to reductions in overtime pay.

Regions will start its hospital-wide rollout this summer as 20 additional patient-care areas begin receiving Vocera badges. This includes other general medical surgery units, The Surgery Center, The Burn Center and The Emergency Center. The hospital estimates that 1,200 total users across shifts will be using the Vocera badge when the roll-out is complete. In early 2006, the non-patient care areas will be considered for expansion.

The Vocera Communications system includes Vocera system software (management, database, voice recognition), and the Vocera Communications badges. The software runs on a Windows-based server, and the badges operate over the hospital's existing local area network. Regions selected the Consulting & Systems Integration business of BT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of British Telecommunications plc, to help assess Regions communications requirements and establish expected outcomes. The company will also provide professional services to train Regions staff and to deploy and provide support of the Vocera system. BT will continue its involvement in the hospital-wide rollout at Regions.

Regions Hospital is a premier, full-service, private hospital providing outstanding medical care, with special programs in heart, womens care, cancer care, seniors' services, digestive care, behavioral health, surgery, burn, emergency and Level I trauma. Established in 1872, the hospital has served the Twin Cities and surrounding region for more than 130 years. Patients receive state-of-the-art care in an environment that promotes comfort and healing. The health professionals at Regions Hospital are involved in teaching and research focused on improving health and medical care. Regions Hospital is part of the HealthPartners family of healthcare organizations.

Contact: Kelli Trask (651) 254-4725 or (651) 629-0411 pager