Star Trek communications could help hospital save lives

Star Trek-like technology from BT could be just what the doctor ordered for staff and patients at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Nottinghamshire.

Previously, according to the trust's own research, it used to take staff members, on average, six-and-a-half minutes to get in touch with a colleague using a telephone or pager.

Now, following a successful trial with 75 users in its accident and emergency (A&E), radiology and medical admissions departments at Kings Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, the trust is using the wireless local area network-based BT Managed Vocera solution, to enable doctors and nurses to communicate with one another in a matter of seconds.

Using the new system, some 1,200 hospital workers, ranging from doctors to receptionists and porters, can speak to each other instantly regardless of where they're based in the hospital using a voice-controlled, wearable badge that weighs less than two ounces.

The system can integrate with existing switchboards and converts voice into IP packets using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology so that it can be reassembled by the receiving device and understood by the recipient.

By just uttering a person's name, department or role, users will be automatically connected to the right person and can then chat to them just like they would on a normal phone.

"In accident and emergency we have been able to move patients more quickly into admitting departments, using the badge to communicate between A&E and site co-ordination staff," said Jeffrey Worrall, the trust's chief executive.

"And as well as transforming patient care, this technology can also improve the way we provide our services and help boost efficiency. But ultimately it's about what's best for our patients and one day there will be an incident where using Vocera will help save a life. I have absolutely no doubt about that."

Carl Miller, superintendent radiographer at the hospital added: "With Vocera I can continue to x-ray patients even when a problem arises. I'm told about the issue immediately via the badge and can think of the best solution while I continue to work. So multi-tasking has become a reality."

The technology will be rolled out to Newark Hospital later this month, helping to make the trust's deployment the biggest installation of a system like this by any UK hospital trust.