Selecting a new technology for your hospital, like a communication and collaboration (CC&C) solution, requires demonstrating its value—a task that can initially seem challenging. How do you measure the impact of a tool designed to optimize workflows? 

The key lies in preparation and a clear measurement strategy. By establishing baseline metrics before deployment, you can effectively compare clinical and operational outcomes post-implementation. This approach not only highlights ROI but also reveals opportunities for improvement. 

So, what defines a strong mobility measurement strategy? While it varies by health system, certain performance indicators are crucial to include. Here’s where to start. 

1. Time

Because the ability to save precious moments is one of the biggest transformational changes that a well-deployed CC&C mobility solution yields, it’s critical to understand how much time tasks take before deployment so that you know how well your investments pay off in the long run. 

Consider the impact of time on clinicians’ workflows both as a whole and by individual tasks. For example, how long does it take for a nurse to track down the attending physician? What’s the turnaround time for ordering and receiving imaging reports? How do communication bottlenecks slow down the speed of care delivery from intake to discharge? 

Also consider the time your IT team spends managing the devices and software currently in place for communication. Say your physicians, nurses, and operational staff are all using different modes of communication. This adds to the maintenance, inventory, and management of every device and technology your hospital uses, which adds an extra burden to your IT teams. Cutting down to a single, unified mode of communication can significantly reduce the time your IT team spends on these tasks. Learn more about the benefits of going multi-purpose and not multi-platform. 

2. Ambient Noise

Measuring ambient noise can be tricky but important—as the cacophony of alerts and overhead alarms tends to subside when they’re efficiently funneled into a single mobility solution like Mobile Heartbeat’s CC&C platform. 

To track ambient noise, look to HCAHPS reports for patient perceptions on the quietness of the hospital—and compare metrics before the launch with those perceptions after the go-live date. How did the technology help address sound levels in the facility? Was there a marked difference in patient perceptions of noise after the mobility updates? 

You likely will find that there is. For example, Mobile Heartbeat’s CC&C platform helped one health system reduce ambient noise by over 9db (nearly 50 percent) in patient areas after deployment.

 3. Patient Outcomes

Patient outcomes and satisfaction are critical considerations in any hospital technology change. At the end of the day, a solution that can speed up nurse call response times and length of stay will positively contribute to the hospital workflow, so it’s important to measure these things carefully in the weeks before implementation, then iteratively in the months following. For example, one Mobile Heartbeat customer reduced the length of stay by 2.2 days. Learn more in our case study.

Beyond outcomes, monitoring HCAHPS scores post-rollout can showcase the value of CC&C solutions, as these scores often reflect a patient’s perception of clinician communication and workflow efficiency.  

4. Staff Satisfaction     

How exactly can mobility solutions impact staff satisfaction? Several examples include:

• Decreasing the time it takes to find people or information and giving clinicians more time back to the bedside. 

• Reducing alarm fatigue and cognitive burnout by replacing overhead alarm systems with targeted alerts to relevant users directly on their mobile device. 

• Eliminates the need for a “utility belt” of single purpose devices by consolidating into one multi-purpose smartphone.  

For a before/after satisfaction comparison, benchmark surveys can help shed light on staff morale, as well as reveal potential areas for improvement going forward. 

5. Medical Errors

The Joint Commission reported that inadequate communication handoffs contribute to 80% of all adverse medical events. Fragmented systems for sharing patient information create silos where critical updates are delayed or lost—putting patients at risk and slowing down care delivery. 

CC&C tools can help reduce medical errors, but establishing a baseline is crucial for comparison. Track error rates by category and review them at three, six, and, twelve months post-launch to assess the impact on error reduction.  

Making Measurement Work for You 

Proving ROI for a technology solution requires upfront effort to establish a solid measurement strategy, but it pays off by clearly demonstrating clinical and operational value. Engaging key stakeholders in the process simplifies metric gathering and ensures meaningful, actionable data. Since mobility solutions benefit everyone—patients, providers, and support staff—relying on concrete insights rather than intuition can be pivotal during budget reviews.