Case Study: UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital achieves reduced nurse burden and improved safety with Stryker’s Vocera solution

Relieving Nurse Burden and Strengthening Safety

UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital is a 204‑bed, not‑for‑profit community hospital in northeast Iowa and the busiest facility in its 10‑county service area. During the COVID‑19 pandemic the hospital faced acute nursing shortages and rising frontline burden, while also needing to maintain security and safety for staff, patients and visitors.

To address this, Allen Hospital expanded its existing Vocera communication platform into a virtual nurse program: hands‑free Vocera devices and a mobile app let bedside nurses summon a virtual nurse who conducts admissions and discharges via webcam, flags clinical concerns, and relays updates to staff. The program saved an average of 12 minutes per admission and 22 minutes per discharge, contributed to a 7.64% increase in HCAHPS scores for medication communication, and helped staff feel safer and more supported on shift.

UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital

Sarah Brown

Chief Nursing Officer