Massachusetts General Hospital has implemented Vocera technology throughout its perioperative services departments with the goal of quieter, more efficient and effective staff communications.

Vocera officials say MGH is using more than 700 of its badges, which link to the Vocera Communication Platform throughout the hospital's operating rooms.

"Voice-controlled technology has become critical for improving communication and navigating within our large and growing environment, while reducing noise levels," said Wilton Levine, MD, associate medical director, perioperative services at MGH, in a press statement.

By deploying wireless badges in the OR, has improved collaboration among surgical care teams, nurses, anesthesiologists and critical perioperative support staff, officials say – especially in "team huddles" and across disciplines. Vocera's closed-loop communication ensures messages are received, they add, in contrast with the one-way communication of standard paging systems. 

MGH is currently averaging about 3,000 calls per day using the new system.

Hands-free communication "truly improves our ability to communicate with the right members of the care team at the right time," said Levine.

[See also: Vocera makes its voice heard with two buys]