Vocera Voice Communication Badge

What is it?

The Vocera Voice Communication Badge is a lightweight voice-activated device which allows individuals or groups to communicate with each other using a 802.11 (Wi-Fi) wireless network. 

The badge works anywhere covered by the Medical Center's wireless network.  This includes wireless networks at remote sites such as West Palm Beach, Naples, Deerfield Beach, etc. 

The badge weighs about 2 ounces, is 4.2" long by 1.4" wide, and is worn around the neck with a lanyard, clipped to a jacket lapel or shirt pocket, or attached to one's belt with an ear piece and microphone attached to it.  

The badges are voice activated and recognize your speech patterns.  The communication system can easily learn heavily accented speech patterns.  Users are set up in functional groups so that organizations can be contacted instead of having to know the names of each individual.

Click here to watch a 3-minute streaming video demonstration of the device.   Click here for a diagram of the parts of a Vocera network.

What can I use it for?

The primary value of this system is its ability to provide improved communication among group members.  Instead of placing a phone call, sending a text page, or leaving a voice/e-mail message, you can instantly contact members of your team.

You can use these communication badges in almost any scenario where you need to contact a person or group of people at the medical campus  You only need to have wireless network services in those locations.

Here are some implementation examples that flow from the ability to communicate with any other Vocera user in real-time across the Medical Center wireless cloud:

  • Call someone at a remote clinic (that has wireless access), without dialing a long distance number.
  • Contact an individual in a sanitary/sterile environment from a non-sanitary/non-sterile environment .
  • Instantly contact department staff spread out across the campus and/or remote sites.
  • Broadcast messages to groups of individuals or to functional areas.
  • Call a functional area or speciality without having to know the individual's name.  Vocera calls will be routed according to your established call plan.  (ex: "Call biomed"....call is routed to a biomedical engineer.  "Call tech support"...call is routed to the Information Technology Help Desk).
  • Send a voicemail message to a Vocera user's e-mail account from your badge (playable from Mac or PC).
  • Send a text message to a Vocera user's badge.
  • Record voicemail messages to yourself for use at a later time while using the Vocera system.
  • Forward your office phone calls to the Vocera badge you are logged in with (not yet available).
  • Forward your Vocera calls to your office phone extension (not yet available)
  • Place phone calls from the badge.
  • Receive phone calls using the badge.

Can this replace my office phone?

No.  This communication system is not intended to function as a telephone service.  It is designed to work with the University's existing phone and wireless data networks to provide an efficient means to communicate among the workforce.  This system can be used as a supplement to areas that have contracted to use mobile phones or other means to communicate with each other while on campus and/or remote sites.

More information

For additional assistance, contact the Vocera Administrator or the Help Desk.  To purchase a badge and account license(s), contact the Procurement Staff.

You can find manuals and other documentation for the Vocera system in the documents directory.  

If you're a new Vocera user, or about to be, you may want to read Vocera: Getting Started or Vocera: Frequently Asked Questions.