Case Study: Health First reduces family anxiety and improves patient–family communication with Stryker

Health First Comforting Patients and Loved Ones

Health First, a not-for-profit integrated healthcare system in Brevard County, FL, needed a better way to keep patients’ loved ones informed during surgeries and other procedures. Leaders identified that delays and lack of contextual updates were increasing anxiety and wanted a solution to improve communication and the overall family experience.

In 2020 Health First implemented the secure, cloud-based Vocera Ease app across its four hospitals so care teams could send real-time text, photo and video updates (staff can send messages by scanning a patient’s bracelet) that expire after 60 seconds and allow emoji responses. Between April and December 2020 teams sent more than 34,000 updates and received over 46,000 emoji replies; use expanded to the NICU, OAS CAHPS scores improved, and surveys showed about 97% of users felt the app demonstrated compassion and transparency, with 96% likely to recommend the hospital.

Health First

Mark Rosenbloom

Vice President of Clinical Transformation