Communication Tools in the OR

[ORRN4evr]

Hello all,

What communication tools are used in your OR and how effective? Looking to hear about hand free technologies that are convenient, affordable and user friendly.

Currently utilizing VOCERA, but still a lot of kinks to work out and it is EXPENSIVE.

We also utilize two phones in each room ( for Circulator and Nurse Anesthetist), beepers (especially for residents and fellows),walkie talkies , ASCOM phones,all leadership accessible by IPhone or Blackberry, some surgeons provide there cell #'s and have the nurses text them, each OR has an intercom to the front desk...and as always the good ole faithful overhead page system.

[TraumaORnurse]

Our PCTs have Voceras, so we can easily reach them. Our patient tracking system is also linked to their Vocera so when we click "procedure end" they are notified to come help with transfers and turnover.

Our charge nurses and nurse managers each carry a SpectraLink phone so they can be reached anywhere in the hospital. The nurse managers also carry pagers.

All of our Anesthesiologists and many of our surgeons carry text-capable pagers, though we only tend to text page the Anesthesiologists. Each OR has the pager numbers for all available. Some of the surgeons will give the room staff their cell numbers to text for specific questions or when we're ready for them. We also have an iPhone that is mainly used to communicate with our reps...it's easier on them (and us) to shoot them a text about a case in case they are in the OR at another facility.

Each OR has 2 phones, one a the nurse's "desk" and the other close to Anesthesia.