University Health Deploys Zebra Mobile Devices to Reduce Callback Times and Modernize Workflows

Instant provider access slashes wait times from 45 minutes to seconds, improving patient care and clinician satisfaction

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a global leader in digitizing and automating workflows to deliver intelligent operations, today announced that University Health has deployed Zebra mobile computers and printers to eliminate communication bottlenecks and modernize point-of-care workflows for its clinical staff. As a result, the Kansas City-based hospital has successfully reduced provider callback wait times from 45 minutes to just a few seconds.

Fixed workstations previously tethered nurses and clinicians, delaying care and creating communication gaps. Over 90% of University Health frontline inpatient staff, including nurses, providers, social workers, and case managers, now use the Zebra mobile solution to spend more time on patient care at the bedside.

“Essentially, if you wanted to do any documentation or communication, you were tied to the nurse's station,” said Natalie Bowles, Senior Informatics Analyst RN, University Health. “Zebra’s mobile computers changed that entirely. Consolidating communication, documentation, and medication administration into one pocket-sized device radically simplified our workflows.”

University Health deployed Zebra’s purpose-built healthcare mobile computers, including the TC5 Series and HC2X/HC5X Series mobile computers and ZQ600 Plus Series mobile printers, to create this connected frontline environment. At the bedside, workers now use the devices to handle the full clinical workflow in a single continuous motion. Nurses can now scan, verify, and document, covering medication administration and specimen collection without doubling back to a workstation, significantly reducing provider callback wait times. Printed labels can also be produced at the point of care.

This solution is designed to unburden clinicians and harmonize the delivery of patient care. Secure integration with the electronic health record (EHR) system of the hospital establishes a vital pipeline for future AI applications. By capturing clean bedside data and instantly routing automated EHR alerts back to clinicians’ screens, these devices quickly convert complex data into real-time insights.

“By unifying clinical and administrative workflows on a single device, we help reduce the cognitive load on clinicians and give them more time for direct patient care,” said Kassaundra McKnight-Young, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Zebra Technologies. “University Health’s experience demonstrates Zebra’s Orchestrated Care framework in action as a connected care delivery model. They have eliminated communication delays and unlocked a safer, more responsive care experience with a mobile-first approach which streamlines critical tasks.”

Mobile-first workflows safeguard critical point-of-care tasks across multiple departments. Here are some examples:

• In the neonatal unit, nurses use the Zebra HC50 to scan infant wristbands against breast milk labels, cross-checking the data instantly with the EHR to ensure safe feeding.
• This workflow also extends to general medicine, where mobile scanning solutions drive inpatient medication verification rates consistently above 90%.
• Expanding bedside care even further, frontline staff use the integrated cameras to capture, timestamp, and instantly upload wound images to patient charts, a practice that directly helps reduce hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs).

“We serve a very diverse population across a wide range of specialties, and we need top-of-the-line technology to take care of all of them,” said Chad Hackler, Director of Clinical Informatics, University Health. “Zebra really listens to clinicians and has the best interest of the organization at heart.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Faster Communication: Replacing desk-bound phone paging with Zebra mobile devices has reduced provider callback wait times from 45 minutes to seconds.
• Improved Patient Safety: Camera capture at the bedside for wound documentation has reduced hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
• High Adoption: Nearly all frontline inpatient staff carry a Zebra device, sustaining inpatient medication verification rates above 90%.
• Real-Time Alerts: Shift handoffs and patient discharge alerts now route directly to caregiver devices.
• Enterprise-Grade Security: Zebra’s mobile devices are protected with hardware-backed encryption and Zebra’s LifeGuard™ for Android™ for predictable, timely security updates.
• To Learn More: Read the full University Health Success Story.

WHO IS ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES?

Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) provides the foundation for intelligent operations with an award-winning portfolio of connected frontline, asset visibility and automation solutions which empower our customers to deploy AI on the frontline. Organizations globally across retail, manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, and other industries rely on us to deliver outcomes today while driving innovation for what’s next. Together with our partners, we create new ways of working that improve productivity and empower organizations to be better every day. Learn more at www.zebra.com.

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