Stryker Rolls Out Sync Badge for Hands-Free Hospital Communication

Stryker has launched the Sync Badge, a hands-free, wearable device to enhance communication and collaboration during hands-on patient care.

The Sync Badge lets care team members use voice commands to connect with the entire care team. The technology aims to address nursing shortages as well as unpredictable and demanding healthcare environments.

The technology came as a result of Stryker’s $3 billion acquisition of Vocera Communications in 2022.

The Sync Badge is woken up by saying “Okay Vocera,” then further voice commands are used to reach contacts by name, role, group, or extension. It can be used to urgently broadcast to team members for assistance or to collect a rapid response group.

In an emergency, help can be requested quickly using the Sync Badge’s dedicated panic button. To allow focus on critical patient care tasks, care team members can enter DND (do not disturb) mode for five, ten, 15 or 30 minutes—or an undefined duration. Escalation paths can be configured so a normal-priority call will automatically route to another user, or an urgent call can break through.

Care team members are able to receive alarms and critical lab results or STAT order notifications directly on the Sync Badge. Through integration with Stryker’s Vocera Engage middleware, the Sync Badge can receive information from the EHR (electronic health record), nurse call, patient monitoring systems, medical devices, scheduling systems, connected beds, and stretchers.

“We strive to support the safety and wellbeing of care team members by designing intuitive solutions to help make their lives easier,” said Scott Sagehorn, vice president and general manager of Stryker’s Acute Care business. “The Sync Badge bridges gaps to ensure care team members remain hands-on where they’re needed most—with their patients.”