Jersey Shore University Medical Center Improves Stroke Care Communication with Vocera Solution

New Jersey hospital reduces readmission rates for stroke patients by 50 percent

SAN JOSE, CA — August 20, 2019 — Vocera Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VCRA), a recognized leader in clinical communication and workflow solutions, today announced that Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center reduced readmission rates among stroke patients by 50 percent after implementing the Vocera Care Inform communication solution. Care Inform enables care team members to record live discharge instructions and teach-back sessions at the patient’s bedside.

Nurse practitioners at Jersey Shore University Medical Center use the Care Inform mobile app to record personalized discharge instructions and create educational resources for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Patient-specific audio recordings and digital health libraries are securely saved in the software platform, where patients and family members can access these resources via phone or computer at any time during a hospital stay or after discharge.

“We are empowering stroke survivors and their families with personalized, rich educational resources to help manage stroke recovery after they leave the hospital,” said Jackie Dwyer, R.N., MSN, CNRN, Stroke Program manager at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “I think when patients hear discharge instructions and teach-back sessions that include their own voices, and the voices of their nurses, it helps improve accountability and compliance.”

Approximately 1 in 4 stroke survivors has another stroke. Knowing the signs and symptoms and following the right care plan can help reduce secondary risks.

After implementing the patient education program supported by Care Inform, the Jersey Shore University Medical Center Stroke Rescue Center reduced readmission rates to 3.6 percent from 7.2 percent. Additionally, the Center saw a 7 percent increase in medication compliance and a 3 percent increase in patients making follow-up appointments with their primary care physicians. There also were increases in the number of patients who could recite signs and symptoms of stroke and personal risk factors.

Dwyer will share details of the patient education and communication program at the AANN Advances in Stroke Care Conference, August 22-24, 2019, in Austin, Texas.

“Stroke programs across the country can benefit from the communication strategy and secondary prevention initiative deployed at Jersey Shore University Medical Center,” said Rhonda Collins, DNP, R.N., chief nursing officer of Vocera. “It’s impressive to see how the hospital’s Stroke Rescue Center uses voice technology to transform patient engagement and improve care plan compliance.”

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH JERSEY SHORE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Located in Neptune, New Jersey, Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and the only Level II Trauma and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Monmouth and Ocean counties. It is home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties. With more than 1,200 physicians and dental staff in 60 specialty areas, Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s team provides quality care in a patient-centered, environmentally-friendly setting.

The team’s commitment to excellence has earned Jersey Shore University Medical Center numerous accolades, including being named the #5 top hospital in New Jersey by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-2020. The medical center’s clinical research program and longstanding commitment to medical education are evident through an affiliation with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University and a new affiliation with St. George’s University School of Medicine. Jersey Shore University Medical Center serves as an academic center dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, training future physicians and providing the community with access to promising medical breakthroughs.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s programs and services have received numerous national recognitions, including designation as high-performing in cardiac, stroke, surgical and oncology services.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s HOPE Tower – a $265 million 10-story medical office building provides a new outpatient healing experience. Guided by a patient-centered approach towards care, and informed by the latest medical breakthroughs, HOPE Tower includes advanced imaging services, a clinical academic center, innovative stimulation laboratory, state-of-the-art amphitheater, specialty physician offices, a nine-level parking garage, and a 58,000 square foot cancer facility. The new cancer facility features a range of comprehensive treatment options, including surgical specialties, medical oncology, and the most advanced radiation therapy and minimally invasive interventional therapies. Nurse navigators guide patients through every step and provide an extra layer of support and coordination.

About Vocera

The mission of Vocera Communications, Inc. is to simplify and improve the lives of healthcare professionals and patients, while enabling hospitals to enhance quality of care and operational efficiency. In 2000, when the company was founded, we began to forever change the way care teams communicate. Today, Vocera offers the leading platform for improving clinical communication and workflow. More than 1,850 facilities worldwide, including nearly 1,600 hospitals and healthcare facilities, have selected our clinical communication and workflow solutions. Care team members use our solutions to communicate and collaborate with co-workers by securely texting or calling, and to be notified of important alerts and alarms. They can choose the right device for their role or task, including smartphones or our hands-free, wearable Vocera Smartbadge and Vocera Badge. Interoperability between the Vocera Platform and more than 140 clinical and operational systems helps reduce alarm fatigue; speed up staff response times; and improve patient care, safety, and experience. In addition to healthcare, Vocera is at home in luxury hotels, aged care facilities, nuclear power facilities, schools, libraries, retail stores, and more. Vocera solutions make a difference in any industry where workers are on the move and need to connect instantly with team members and access resources or information quickly. In 2017, Vocera made the list of Forbes 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America. Learn more at www.vocera.com and follow @VoceraComm on Twitter.

Vocera® and the Vocera logo are trademarks of Vocera Communications, Inc. registered in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks appearing in this release are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact
Shanna Hearon 
Vocera Communications, Inc. 
669.999.3368 
[email protected]