Case Study: Health First achieves faster surgical communication and improved OR efficiency with Stryker

East Central Florida’s Health First Hospitals Use Vocera Voice Solution in Surgical Departments

Health First, a four-hospital system on Florida’s Space Coast including the 514‑bed Holmes Regional Medical Center (18 ORs, 9–10k surgeries/year) and the expanded Palm Bay Hospital, faced complex coordination challenges across dispersed ORs and multiple clinical teams. Fragmented communications and reliance on paging, cordless phones and cell phones led to delays in surgical workflows, higher costs and potential impacts on patient care.

Health First implemented the Vocera voice solution—hands‑free badges and role/group callability—across surgical areas, PACU and bedside nurses, with staff trained on HIPAA‑appropriate use. The system delivered near‑instant connections, reduced routine delays (saving an estimated 10 minutes per nurse per shift), streamlined workflows, improved emergency response and helped refocus staff on patient‑centered care.

Health First

Barbara Pattison

Director of Surgical Services