Case Study: University of Chicago Medicine boosts patient experience and outcomes with Stryker's Vocera Care Rounds

Vocera Care Rounds Helps The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) Improve Patient Experience and Outcomes

The University of Chicago Medicine, a 550‑bed academic medical center, sought to raise patient experience to match its world‑class clinical reputation. With new leadership and a dedicated Office of Patient Experience, UCM faced a fragmented, competitive market and ambitious HCAHPS/Press Ganey targets—but its nurse leader rounding was inconsistent, paper‑based, and offered limited accountability or actionable data.

UCM deployed Vocera Care Rounds on iPads to standardize rounding, capture real‑time patient and family feedback via about 10 targeted questions, and generate measurable data. Rolled out across 32 units, the program produced nearly 12,000 rounds on more than 9,500 patients in four months, yielded 2,800+ staff recognitions, and drove dramatic gains in patient satisfaction—“Likelihood to Recommend” rose from the 12th to the 67th percentile (large Press Ganey database) and from 17% to 55% among peer academic centers—while fostering service councils and greater physician engagement.

University of Chicago Medicine

Debra Albert

Vice President, Patient Care Services