Zebra devices coming to inpatient units to improve communication and care

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is preparing to roll out Zebra mobile devices across inpatient units, bringing faster communication, greater mobility, and more efficient workflows to clinical teams.

The handheld devices—which look and feel like standard cell phones—will initially be used for Epic communication and documentation, and by year-end will include  VoIP internal and external calling. Clinicians will be able to communicate instantly, review patient information from anywhere in the hospital, and document care directly at the bedside.

This shift will reduce delays caused by returning to stationary computers or WOWs (workstations on wheels) for alerts, messages, or charting. Critical lab value notifications and other alerts will eventually be added as well, supporting quicker intervention and improved patient outcomes.

"Bringing this device to frontline staff offers an optimized solution that replaces a myriad of existing tools such as phones, scanners, computers, and pagers,” said UTMB Chief Nursing Information Officer Dr. Kandice Bledsaw. “For nursing and ancillary staff, this will be the new UTMB standard."

To prepare for the transformational change, clinicians have collaborated with the nursing informatics and IT teams to review workflows for their respective areas in addition to completing testing. Each unit will also identify super users, and staff will be able to attend hands-on workshops before their go-live date.

The project is rolling out in phases across UTMB campuses, beginning with Angleton Danbury and John Sealy Hospital in Galveston and expanding to Clear Lake, League City, and all inpatient areas in Galveston. 

Implementation timeline

• March 2026: Angleton Danbury Campus and John Sealy Hospital

• Summer 2026: Clear Lake and League City campuses

• December 2026: Galveston Campus

“Nurses and ancillary staff have needed a functional and secure device to communicate within and across teams to provide more efficient and timely patient care,” said UTMB Nursing Information Program Manager Laura Henderson. “Having the devices will allow UTMB to continue to invest in various innovative technologies to improve patient care, patient, and nursing/care team satisfaction.”