It seems like almost every day a new vendor announces a HIPAA-compliant text application. Here at Voalte, we consider it our business to know who’s entering the market, and we’re impressed by the steady stream of new vendors. But does the development of an effective clinical communication solution require more than writing an app, labeling it “HIPAA-compliant” and posting it to the App Store?

The short answer is yes. To be a complete clinical solution provider, you need to offer more than text, and you need to venture outside of the App Store and the Google Apps Marketplace. To offer a complete solution, you need the staff, expertise and technology to support on-site integrations with key hospital systems like PBXs, Wi-Fi networks and alarm systems. And after you’ve integrated the systems, you’ll need to be on-site to add real value by consulting on new workflows, training users and supporting the staff when the solution goes live. Finally, you have to keep those hundreds of smartphones you just deployed running smoothly with a continued on-site presence.  

For many industry newcomers, these requirements are expensive, messy and don’t fit into a Facebook-style business model.

In the quest to implement “voice, alarms and text” in hospitals large and small, Voalte has managed successful integrations to:

- Middleware products from four vendors
- PBXs from six manufacturers
- Nurse call systems from four manufacturers
- Wi-Fi networks from three vendors

The result is in an easy-to-use communication solution that reduces noise, improves clinician satisfaction, and allows healthcare providers to focus on what originally led them to their calling.

Things will get even more exciting with our next app, which lets people run Voalte on their personal devices and connect to other Voalte users anywhere, any time. But more on that in my next blog. 

“A tipping point is the event of a previously rare phenomenon becoming rapidly and dramatically more common.”

Last year it happened – I can’t put my finger on when it happened – and I am not sure if there was a specific day, week, or month when it occurred, but in 2012, we hit a tipping point.

The tipping point we experienced was the exponential growth of smartphones being used as a communication device at the point-of-care. Nurses, doctors, and hospital administrators have unilaterally proclaimed that legacy VoIP wireless phones, pagers, and voice badges are devices of the past; our caregivers deserve a better communications experience.

We are constantly amazed at what our customers have been able to achieve in the past four years and we are blessed to partner with such an innovative group of healthcare leaders.

So what is in store for 2013– the year past the tipping point? What is the future of smartphones at the point-of-care?

Come check us out at HIMSS13 in New Orleans to see what Voalte has planned for the new year. If you think Voalte was busy last year, just wait and see what we have in store for you in 2013!

On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 10:00AM PST, Apple released the iPad Mini.

On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at approximately 10:05AM PST, physicians, nurses, and other caregivers began asking IT when the iPad Mini would be supported by the organization.

Below are three things to consider regarding the iPad Mini’s immediate impact on healthcare:

1. Ease of use. The iPad Mini has the same intuitive user interface and application standards that the iPad and iPhone feature. Users will have no problem picking up the device and using it with little-to-no training. Standardized products and ubiquitous experiences have their advantages.

2. No form factor. The iPad Mini is a dream device for physicians and nurses who are looking for a lightweight, mobile platform that can fit in their lab coat pocket. It’s big enough to enable both reading and writing information in an EHR, yet small enough to easily carry around throughout a shift. When it comes to the deployment of the iPad Mini, the real question will be, how quickly EHR vendors can optimize their applications for the iPad Mini’s new form factor? Epic’s Cantu and Cerner’s PowerChartTouch were both designed for a regular sized iPad. Not all features and functions that have been built into their iPad app will be suitable for a smaller screen size, so expect customization to occur.

3. Enterprise readiness. Right out of the gate, the iPad Mini runs Apple’s iOS, which is accepted by almost all IT organizations in one fashion or another. With the plethora of mobile device management solutions (such as Voalte Connect, powered by Airwatch), the iPad Mini will have no problem receiving the go-ahead from IT in terms of enterprise readiness. (This, of course, is a 180-degree change from the launch of the iPhone in 2008!)

Wondering how the iPad Mini will play into your organization’s mobility strategy? Feel free to give us a call here at Voalte and we will be happy to help guide the way.

As a young, fast growing company, trade shows can provide a wealth of knowledge, and lead to an overwhelming amount of success. Two weeks ago, Voalte had the chance to participate in the Cerner Health Conference out in Kansas City, Missouri. We had a booth setup, ready to demonstrate our Voalte One Nursing Communication Solution where we were able to speak face-to-face with current customers in addition to potential customers. Our booth screamed pink and green and our “pink pants crew” triggered lots of attention across the show floor driving more traffic towards our location.   

What made CHC different from other shows I had attended in the past is that it was a user conference. In other words, only Cerner customers were able to attend. In addition, Voalte and Cerner were able to join forces to enhance communication at the point-of-care, by integrating with Cerner on a few different levels at the conference. We showed Voalte One integration at the CareAware Connect station as well as the Alert Link Alarm Management Station. Cerner showcased these products and others in their Solutions Gallery. This Solutions Gallery was an amazing resource of EMR knowledge. We were able to learn as much as possible about their EMR and Middleware platforms, iBus and Alert Link, as well as new up-and-coming Cerner products!   

Looking back, I can’t help but think of CHC’s tagline, “Because it’s personal”. At the end of the conference, I was able to meet face-to-face with hundreds of potential customers, some of which I had been speaking with for seven months or more. Which goes to show you, building relationships before hand is key, but being able to interact face-to-face can make all the difference. And when you stop and think about it, the same is true in healthcare.

Healthcare is personal, shouldn’t clinical communication be personal too? 

Recently I was given the opportunity to travel to California and engage in an onsite meeting. We met with an organization that was seeking out a communications platform to accommodate their new medical campus. Aside from the traditional pink pants buzz, our presence created an overwhelming sense of optimism. After years of handling unintelligent legacy devices, a brief exposure to innovation opened their eyes and left them with a trending notion: change is coming.

The 3 most talked about features included:

1. Texting – Blown away by the increased functionality and customization, nurses immediately gravitated to the personalized texting feature. They understood what texting provided and how it could help improve workflow efficiency. 

2. No Alarm Fatigue – Due to the immense call volume per shift, nurses were cringing at the sound of their phone. A phone call for something as simple as ice-chips? Not anymore. Voalte eliminates 80% of ringing phones, decreases alarm fatigue, and helps streamline communication. Consequently, we have happy nurses and an overall positive end-user experience.

3. One Device – With a legacy phone dangling from her neck, and a “Batman Utility Belt” full of pagers, we bumped into a nurse that set a new Voalte record for devices carried (6). With Voalte, caregivers can shed some device weight with a solution that eliminates excess pagers and phones.

Not only did caregivers embrace the functionality, they also understood the BIG picture. Healthcare is a constantly evolving, ever-changing field. By integrating with Voalte, hospitals are provided with a communication platform that can expand to meet their needs. Overall, our visit opened their eyes to innovation, making a lasting impression upon their staff members with thoughts of pink on their mind...

The release of a new Apple device has become associated with adults behaving like children.  We camp out in sleeping bags with friends (in front of the nearest Apple store).  We stay up until 3 a.m. (to pre-order).  Some of us may even throw mini temper tantrums if delivery is delayed a day (not mentioning any coworker’s names).  And if we’re among the poor souls who have to wait, we become very, very jealous of the “in” crowd’s new toys.  Whether you’re reading this on your shiny new iPhone 5, pining away for one until your upgrade is available in January (moi), or just watching this whole game unfold like a football fan on Sunday, you’re probably aware of the existence of “device envy.” 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a consumer aching to trade in your phone or tablet for a fancier new model, or a healthcare administrator exploring intrahospital communication solutions – there are a few basic questions you should ask yourself before donning a clown costume and jumping on the upgrade bandwagon (Google the origin of “bandwagon” if you didn’t get the Bozo reference – interesting story…).

Is it necessary?
Don’t panic.  Answering “no” doesn’t categorically mean you should halt research on upgrades, but it’s important to understand your own or your facility’s motivations before assessing your options.  A non-essential upgrade may only be realistic when personal, department, or organizational budgets allow.

Is it practical?
Sure, Voalte is the communication solution used by U.S. News and World Report’s top ranked hospital, Massachusetts General.  And, yes, CNET just listed the iPhone as the best cell phone yet again.  But if you oversee a small rural facility that operates sans WiFi, or you’re in the Peace Corps in electricity-free Northern Ghana, no matter how great they sound, well, expensive ice cubes just aren’t that useful for Eskimos.

Does it have a documented history of success?
Whether it’s for posting your Facebook status updates, or its purchase represents a significant investment of hard-earned fundraising dollars, you don’t want to plunk down a hefty chunk of change for a fly-by-night device or solution that may not be around next year, or might not have the resources to provide quality, comprehensive service.  ‘Nuff said.

Is it a long-term solution; can it grow with me/us?
These days, it’s all about the “expanding platform.”  There’s no way around it – the world has changed, and when considering options for both personal and professional devices, your lifestyle or workflows are likely going to dictate that an expanding platform is the only viable solution.  Literally every day, new applications and new uses for existing hardware are developed; you’ll want to have access to them.  Be certain to make a sound investment in a device and company that has the ability to evolve with the dynamic communication landscape we operate in.

So there it is.  Now if you’ll excuse me; I’m off to pull another day from the Pinterest-inspired “Countdown to iPhone 5” calendar I created.

My name is Alex Brown and I love reading through release notes, beta testing new software and anxiously watching new product announcements (Dreamforce, AppleKeynotes, etc.). Basically I’m addicted to new features.

I’m in charge of scoping and implementing the IT systems that help Voalte employees work smarter, not harder. Many of our IT vendors are using Agile based development (So are We!), leading to a constant flow of new features. To me new features = new workflows.

For example, this past spring Box.com (our Document Management and Collaboration System) revamped their file comment system to be similar to a facebook-esque newsfeed, including all the relevant history of a file as well as tasks, comments, and revisions. This new feature allowed us to revamp our Travel Authorization Workflow, our Deployment Template Workflow, and our Marketing Collateral Workflow. My challenge is making sure our workflows are the best they can be, utilizing the new available features.

In the world of Voalte a great example of where new features = new workflows is in our VoalteOne 2.0 Release. With the introduction of Read Receipts caregivers no longer have to constantly ping colleagues as to whether or not they read a certain message (i.e. “Can I get ice in Room 205?”). Instead, they can check for a read receipt and if the other party doesn’t read a message in time they can transfer the request to someone else. The challenge for hospitals is having people who re-evaluate workflows actually take into account all the new features available to them.

Who on your staff turns new features into new workflows?

There is no question that the iPhone is the king of smartphones when it comes to clinical communication. No other device has been so widely adopted by nurses, doctors, and other caregivers.

In celebration of the iPhone 5 release, the five improvements listed below ensure that Apple’s latest iPhone continues to be the king of communication devices in the enterprise healthcare space:

1. Larger display with 44% more color saturation. As more applications provide medical document and imaging features, the richer and better display continues the iPhone’s dominance as the essential medical device for accessing patient information.

2. 802.11N support. The iPhone 5 supports 802.11 a/b/g/n on 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. This is a HUGE, HUGE win for future VoIP support on the iPhone. It also supports secure information downloading on an enterprise’s wireless network.

3. 4G LTE connectivity. The future of mHealth depends on ultra fast connectivity in locations outside the walls of the hospital. Furthermore, 4G LTE support from iPhone promotes video and other telehealth focused applications.

4. A6 CPU – faster performance, better battery life. Having the iPhone survive through a 12-15 hour shift is critical for point-of-care communication. The iPhone 4S was easily able to make this mark – with a new and improved battery, we can expect the iPhone 5 to last even longer at the point-of-care.

5. 20% lighter, 18% thinner. Caregivers have to carry around many tools to do their job. A lighter, thinner iPhone is just icing on the cake.

Apple continues to amaze and dominate the smartphone market with the design and functionality of their products. It’s incredible to see the improvement from the first iPhone 3 to the new iPhone 5. One can only imagine what the iPhone 10 will look like in 5 years…

Long live the king of mHealth!

When I joined Voalte six months ago, I was already a fan of the iPhone. I had read about this fantastic company providing a revolutionary healthcare communication solution via the iPhone. Needless to say, I was eager to join the team. I love providing excellent customer service and I love the iPhone, but providing support to those who care for others is especially rewarding. 

As a Voalte BFF, I provide Voalte support to caregivers at the point-of-care in real time. I’m there with our users throughout the course of a busy day to answer questions or provide other assistance that enables them to get back to their patients quickly. At any moment users can reach out to me by sending feedback at the touch of a button and I am able to respond just as quickly.  We BFFs do this all day, every day. It’s really all we think about.

Now caregivers are smart people. They’re well trained professionals and the work they do is complex and demanding. They’re dealing with changes in healthcare and responding to those who are in their care. They’re really amazing people. On top of everything they have to do, they’re navigating a technology leap from a patchwork of communication methods (personal pagers, overhead paging, call lights, patient monitoring systems, landline phones, and etc.) to Voalte, the one solution that allows for comprehensive communication from the palm of their hand. Suddenly, communication can travel effortlessly to and from your handheld smartphone at the tap of the screen. Voalte is an amazing and powerful solution for critical hospital communications.

So how do our users make the leap to the next level in communication technology? First, by being a caregiver at one of the best hospitals in the country! And while smartphones may seem to be ubiquitous, they are new to some of our users. The idea of using a smartphone may at first seem intimidating to some, but Voalte is built for comfort! Those who are new to smartphones sometimes need a bit of coaching on the phone itself. I’m the friend they can rely on to help them get over that little bump in the road. I’m their BFF, and our BFF team is there pretty much whenever we’re needed so that caregivers can get back to doing what they do best. Their transition to the Voalte solution is often an exhilarating experience because the user interface is so intuitive that they’re able to enjoy the benefits of improved communication immediately.

For me, it’s all a matter of perspective. You don’t need to know how to rebuild an engine in order to drive a car, and you don’t need to know every detail of how smartphones work in order to use one successfully. The Voalte solution makes it easy! Have a suggestion, comment, or question? Reach out and let us know. You’ll find my team listed under Voalte BFF in the directory.

Better communication means better caregivers.

Better caregivers mean better patient outcomes.

 

Fresh faces and excitement fill the room before each training class begins. Users chitchat amongst themselves thinking “what in the world is this lady going to train us on today?” They discuss what’s going on with their patients, their team dynamics, and their life in general. Often times, people come into class with preconceived notions from past in-service trainings and possible knowledge of iPhone or smartphone use. They may even discuss how Voalte will be perceived among their coworkers.

Now fast forward to the day of the unit’s “go-live”. Users may be a bit nervous about using Voalte. But there will be two major differences between those that attended training and those that did not: adoption and usability.

Users that attended training leave class excited about Voalte and how it will improve communication. Those that did not attend may feel obligated to use something they hardly know anything about. Adoption is key to the success of the Voalte implementation – or any other technology for that matter. Training class attendees know how to “Add to Favorites”, send feedback, find their extension, add contacts to the directory, and so much more. Also during training, users are given a user guide that provides step-by-step instructions on the Voalte application. If you do not attend training you are given a phone and left to ask questions that could have been answered. That person will only be able to use the basic functions of the application and are ultimately left at the mercy of their colleagues.

Attending training allows users to sit down and think about how they will use the application in real time, as they get the opportunity to practice operating the phones in class. As various features are explained, it is amazing seeing the       “ah-ha” moments people have about what the application can do and how Voalte will help with communication among colleagues in their unit, as well as throughout the entire hospital. They will now be able to receive information in a faster and more efficient manner. Training is usually the first point of contact we have with end users and is so critical to the success of the project.

See you in the next training class….