The Vocera Badge and medGadget rant

Will someone who uses these things talk to me about HIPAA and confidentiality compliance? The white paper from the company which addresses HIPAA basically says, “Don’t say anything when in front of anyone, and don’t answer when in front of anyone.”

This seems VERY unrealistic as it runs off of a speaker phone type thing. Apparently you have the ability to use a headset, but does anyone really do that?

medGadget Rant: The Vocera Badge

On a side note, I normally have no issues with medGadget as their content is always worth the read. Unfortunately, the following quote was added as part of the above entry:

According to Vocera Communications, a company out of Cupertino, California, a hospital in the UK is introducing “an innovative system that allows its staff to contact each other instantly anywhere in the hospital through a voice activated, wearable badge.” In other words, a new, instantaneous, Star Trek inspired voice activated way for nurses to bother doctors.

Rant—Now, either this entry was written by an Intern who has had a rough go of it as of late, or a resident that has not been properly beaten as of yet. Either way, I have found that in my position as a Nurse Practitioner, the phone calls sent to me because the resident cannot be found are because THE RESIDENT / ATTENDING DID NOT DO THEIR JOB RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.–End of Rant

  1. I think you are reading too much into it. The post was written by a private MD (me), and the complaint was not about the nurses, but rather about being waken up in the middle of the night. Such is the nature of the job: and I can complain about it all I want. I have no interest to denigrate any professionals, medical or otherwise, nor I have any intent to denigrate anyone or any group. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

  2. I agree with you regarding the badges being used to constantly “bug” the docs.. It would be fun though!
    Residents not taking care of business still happens when they go to being docs too… SIGH…
    Can you add a link to my other blog as well???
    I need some link lovin’… and some cash clicks too!
    Nurse Practitioner News

  4. yikes! I never caught the original post.
    I think something like this is wonderful!!! Already in my 65 bed ER we ALL carry cell phones, so we can find people. If I have a question or need to relay info, i simply pick up my cell, call a pre-programmed number, they answer, voila………

    The problems in the ER come when we have 25 holds…….and we can’t get in touch with the person writing orders….. i’m not going to go into details, but the ER doc won’t touch ’em since they are already admitted,the badge system would work wonderfully I think!!! haha

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