Hospital Colored-Code Communications Enable Smooth Operations

For a large medical facility in America’s mid-east, they’ve introduced a highly effective method to communicate such codes – and much more.

Urgent or unexpected events, such as an approaching severe weather incident, a scheduled event such as an IT system upgrade, or an upcoming initiative like a town hall meeting, require careful co-ordination and targeted distribution of messages. And most importantly, they must be read.

Efficient internal communication is always a challenge in a fast-paced, unpredictable environment like a hospital. Not every employee has a computer, many work shifts, and they are often away from their desk. There’s a requirement to keep noise levels to a minimum. And the unexpected can happen at any time.

While email is used for some messages, the hospital spokesperson says this channel is not suitable for important, time-sensitive content. “Email is an over-used channel with no guarantee when staff get to it,” they explain.

“Most of what we send out is operational, but with a sense of urgency or high priority. If an IT system is going to be offline for a while, which may affect staff doing their job, then they must know in advance.”

On the rare occasion of an emergency situation developing, employees require status updates and critical information, otherwise they potentially put themselves or their patients at risk – a primary concern for every public service facility.

The hospital sought a real-time communication solution that would bypass email, be quick to activate if needed, and be effective at message cut-through.