‍Nursing homes, also known as assisted living facilities, are long-term residential care providers for the elderly and for people with severe disabilities or recovering from major surgery. These facilities usually assist residents with daily living or custodial care - bathing, dressing, eating/preparing meals, managing medications and using the toilet; skilled nursing is provided in a nursing home where residents, both long-term and temporary, are provided individualized services - such as occupational therapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation - by licensed professionals. Many nursing homes also offer “memory care,” which includes specialized services for people with dementia and Alzheimer's.

Why is effective communication important in nursing homes?

Effective communication in nursing homes is crucial for ensuring residents' needs are met promptly, enhancing their quality of life. Clear communication in nursing homes among staff members can prevent errors in medication administration and treatment plans, leading to better health outcomes and overall resident satisfaction.

The Growing Care Home Industry

There are almost 200,000 long-term care facilities in operation worldwide. Most of them, approximately 52,000, are in the USA, which represents 27 percent of global market share. Poland is the second-largest nursing home market, with about 50,000 facilities, followed by the UK with about 27,000 nursing homes. The industry continues to expand as a vertical as populations in industrialized nations, particularly “baby boomers” in the USA, age - by 2030 there will be more Americans over the age of 65 than there will be Americans under the age of 18; anyone turning 65 as of the early 2020s has a 70 percent chance of ultimately requiring long-term care, with 20 percent of this demographic requiring this care for five years or more. As of 2021 U.S. life expectancy reached 76 years. American baby boomers are living longer, which means, in the case of lengthy illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, they will require lengthier long-term care than prior generations.

Communication in Nursing Homes - Better Communication Results in Better Care

Long-term care requires the best in comprehensive, immediate and robust communication solutions, and Vodia’s cloud phone system is the perfect choice for communication in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing centers. The Vodia PBX enhances call handling, emergency notifications and overhead paging systems, strengthening staff coordination and streamlining operations. Our cloud phone system is a best-in-class system for communication in nursing homes, enabling your facility to provide impeccable care to residents while maintaining a truly safe environment.  

Privacy, Scheduling and Caregiver Responsiveness

Senior care centers must keep track of residents’ records, staff schedules and compliance, with communication between staff members and between residents and staff the foundation of quality care, particularly in emergencies. There are a number of requirements for communication in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities - thanks to its rich suite of features, Vodia meets all of these requirements:

• Automated Call Distribution (ACD): efficient call routing, reduced wait times and improved response times.
• Call handling: customized call flows for individual departments or staff responsibilities.
• Call recording and reporting: information capture and case management.
• Communication channels: facilitate clear and secure messaging among staff members, regardless of endpoints and even if staff members are using their smartphones (thanks to the Vodia mobile app).
• Emergency response: instant internal communication and mass notifications.
• HIPAA compliant and secure: for the protection of sensitive data with encryption for adherence to healthcare privacy legislation.
• Remote access: for administrative staff and telehealth consultations, ensuring continuity of care.
• Scalable: for an increasing number of residents and staff as a facility grows.
• Seamless integration: electronic health records (EHRs) and pharmacy services, simplifying administrative tasks and record-keeping.

A VoIP Phone System for Nursing Homes

Nursing home operations demand effective and immediate communication between administrators, doctors, nurses and therapists, communication that requires seamless coordination. Vodia enables staff to communicate effortlessly, whether through internal extensions, direct calls or messaging, both on facility devices and on personal smartphones (BYOD) with the Vodia app. Vodia gives everyone on the system core features such as call forwarding, messaging and voicemail.

With Vodia, long-term care facilities can trust no vital communication is “lost” - this makes sure important communication is integrated into facility workflows. By fostering consistent communication between colleagues, Vodia contributes to a cohesive ecosystem wherein case updates, consultations, knowledge sharing and interdisciplinary teamwork are streamlined, so team members can make the best possible decisions and, ultimately, effect better patient outcomes.

The Vodia Phone System for Care Homes - Data Privacy and Security

Maintaining the privacy of residents’ medical information is crucial in nursing homes. At Vodia, data privacy has always been one of our core priorities, and long-term care facilities can trust their information is protected by the data security standards mandated by the EU-DSGVO and HIPAA. The Vodia phone system is eligible for certification in nursing homes, fully compliant with stringent requirements, and it can be deployed in any data center certified for medical purposes. Additionally, upon request, the Vodia communication platform can be securely hosted in data centers that meet the highest security standards through IONOS, our partner in Germany. Vodia’s unwavering commitment to avoiding open-source code in the development of our software also minimizes security risks.  

A Wireless Solution - with or without Internet Connectivity

The effectiveness of any communication platform relies on its seamless integration with extant solutions:

• DECT infrastructures
• desktop applications
• emergency communication systems
• SIP phones
• smartphones
• tablets
• web browsers

VoIP for Nursing Homes - Vodia Gives You Seamless Integrations

Vodia integrates seamlessly with existing software, whether it's MIS (Medical Information System), CIS (Clinical Information System), appointment scheduling or telemedicine software. For facilities seeking further customization, Vodia’s API enables the development of software based on our phone system. Our dedicated partners are always ready to provide comprehensive guidance and manage the integration of devices or software for your particular requirements. For long-term care facilities, the possibilities are endless.  

Strengthen Your Microsoft Teams Ecosystem with the Vodia Phone System

Many long-term care facilities use Microsoft Teams - integrating the Microsoft Teams-certified Vodia PBX with Teams enhances communication across various environments within a nursing home ensures efficient coordination between administration, medical staff and patients. By combining Vodia with Teams, nursing homes using Teams and Teams-compliant devices can connect their offices to rooms with devices registered to the PBX, while staff can use DECT multicell as a cordless, in-house solution. This integration combines the collaborative depth and strength of Teams with Vodia’s industry-standard telephony features for immediate emergency response, improved call management and paging.

Vodia Smart Fax

Fax will remain with us indefinitely, especially in the healthcare industry, as it’s often the preferred and most secure means of transmitting case notes, reports and prescriptions. Vodia empowers nursing homes to continue to use this time-tested means of transmitting documents by enhancing its capabilities and reinforcing its security. Vodia’s encrypted fax transmission within secure networks ensures double security for the exchange of sensitive information. Additionally, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities can use faxes as digital documents, doing away with paper. Vodia Smart Fax is fast, secure, and straightforward.

The Best Phone System for Any Patient Care Facility

Why should nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities trust Vodia with their communications?

• Certifications - Vodia provides certifications for the professional setup and operation of its nursing homes solution; we provide professional services, when necessary, for third-party certification.
• Expertise - Our experts match their tech proficiency with deep knowledge of all aspects of telecommunications to help users get the absolute most out of our bespoke communication solutions.
• Operational Flexibility - Long-term care facilities can deploy the Vodia phone system in any operation model and platform.
• Partnerships - Vodia builds long-term relationships with the telcos, ISPs and MSPs who bring our software to the marketplace. These relationships are the foundation of our success.
• Privacy and Security - We prioritize privacy and security by design to address critical risks and legal restrictions.
• Professional Services - Our solutions are purpose-built for nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities and the specific platforms these organizations need to operate and grow.
• Robust Architecture - Backed with robust architecture, best-in-class software code and minimal hardware and network requirements, we give you measurable availability and unlimited scalability.

An Industry-Leading Digital Phone System for Resident Care

Looking for a partner to take care of communications at your nursing home, rehabilitation center or long-term care facility? Make an appointment with us, sales@vodia.com, +1 (617) 861-3490.

About Vodia

Vodia Networks, Inc. is a pioneering provider of B2B Cloud Communications Solutions catering to enterprises, contact centers and service providers. Vodia's PBX software boasts an extensive suite of business telephony features for on-premise and cloud-based systems and operates seamlessly across Windows, Linux or Mac platforms. Fully compliant with SIP industry standards, the Vodia phone system integrates effortlessly with a wide range of SIP-based devices and trunking providers, granting ultimate freedom in telephony. Vodia’s multi-tenancy platforms are compatible with an unprecedented number of technologies, including desk phones, softphones and APIs, for myriad third-party software and CRM systems. Our mission is to empower our partners and end-users with the world's best cloud PBX and personalized support to ensure their success at every turn. Our US headquarters are in Boston and our European headquarters are in Berlin; we also maintain offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Nicosia (Cyprus) and Sydney, Australia. Visit Vodia on LinkedIn, X and YouTube.