Becker's Healthcare Report: How VectorCare Solves Communication Gaps in Patient Transfers

Efficient communication is the backbone of effective patient care, especially during critical processes like patient transfers. Yet, many hospitals and healthcare systems still struggle with outdated and fragmented communication methods, often relying on multiple disconnected tools – pagers, landline phones, faxes, and a mix of electronic health record (EHR) messaging platforms. This reliance on disparate tools not only hampers productivity but also heightens the risk of miscommunication, delays, and, ultimately, negative patient outcomes.

A 2024 Becker’s Healthcare report, in collaboration with TigerConnect, sheds light on the extent of these challenges, highlighting that nearly 85% of clinicians face communication inefficiencies regularly, with over half of nurses experiencing these issues frequently¹. 

Delays, searching for contacts, and managing interruptions are part of daily life for healthcare professionals, creating what has been aptly termed “communication noise”. VectorCare was created to directly address these issues with a streamlined platform that consolidates communication and coordination, paving the way for faster, more efficient, and safer patient transfers.

Below we break down 4 key challenges identified in the report that impact patients, staff, and facilities, and how VectorCare is delivering solutions. 

1. The Real Costs of Communication Inefficiencies

The challenge

In healthcare, every minute counts. Delays caused by communication breakdowns are more than just inconvenient – they carry real costs. When clinicians spend valuable time searching for contacts, switching between systems, or waiting for responses, patient care is delayed. According to Becker’s, a typical hospital bed costs approximately $1,500 per day¹, underscoring the financial burden of extended bed stays due to inefficient discharge processes. When clinicians can’t quickly access the information they need, the result is slower patient throughput, longer ED wait times, and diminished staff morale, all of which impact a hospital’s bottom line.

The solution

VectorCare’s platform is designed to address these pain points by making patient transfers fast, simple, and transparent. With VectorCare, scheduling an ambulance transfer takes less than three minutes – a remarkable reduction compared to traditional transfer workflows that often involve multiple phone calls, pages, and delays. VectorCare's rapid scheduling helps healthcare systems reduce discharge delays, improve patient flow, and make better use of hospital resources.

2. Streamlining the Transfer Process for Better Patient Outcomes

The challenge

One of the most critical moments in patient care is the transition between different care settings, whether from the ED to an inpatient ward, between hospital floors, or to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Any delay or miscommunication during these transfers can have serious consequences. The Becker’s report reveals that clinicians regularly face interruptions and incomplete information, which impedes their ability to make timely, informed decisions. In fact, over 40% of clinicians report frequent interruptions¹, which not only slows down the decision-making process but also increases cognitive load and contributes to burnout.

The solution

VectorCare’s platform eliminates these bottlenecks by centralizing and simplifying the transfer workflow. Instead of relying on a patchwork of systems and guesswork, clinicians can use VectorCare’s intuitive interface to see which providers are available, communicate seamlessly, and secure the necessary transportation quickly. By providing a clear, consolidated view of the transfer process, VectorCare ensures that all stakeholders – clinicians, nurses, transportation providers, and administrators – are on the same page. This approach reduces the chances of delayed or missed information, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and a smoother transfer experience.

3. Financial Benefits of a Unified Transfer Solution

The challenge

The financial implications of delayed discharges and extended patient stays are well-documented. Hospitals bear substantial costs when patients remain in beds longer than necessary, often due to inefficiencies in the discharge and transfer process. Becker’s research indicates that these inefficiencies contribute to healthcare’s excessive operational costs, with time spent switching between communication tools, waiting for responses, and re-contacting colleagues accounting for significant productivity losses.

The solution

VectorCare’s streamlined transfer scheduling directly impacts these financial metrics. By reducing discharge delays, VectorCare frees up bed space, enabling hospitals to admit more patients and optimize resource allocation. For instance, reducing dry runs – scheduled transports canceled due to timing issues or miscommunication – saves hospitals thousands annually. Each dry run costs an estimated $50, and with around 25% of transfers canceled in some facilities, the cost savings from an efficient, unified platform like VectorCare are substantial.

Additionally, by facilitating quick transfers, VectorCare improves emergency department throughput, as patients can be moved to appropriate care settings more efficiently. With Becker’s data indicating that ED wait times average over 1.5 hours¹, every minute saved in the transfer process helps reduce patient wait times and alleviate congestion, making a tangible difference in both patient experience and hospital efficiency.

4. Enhancing Clinician Productivity and Reducing Burnout

The challenge

The Becker’s report emphasizes that communication inefficiencies are a significant contributor to clinician burnout¹, with frequent interruptions and a constant need to search for contacts adding to the cognitive load of healthcare professionals. Nurses, in particular, bear the brunt of these inefficiencies, as they are often responsible for coordinating patient transfers and communicating with various departments.

The solution

VectorCare’s platform is purpose-built to reduce these inefficiencies, allowing clinicians to focus on patient care rather than administrative tasks. By consolidating communication into one platform, VectorCare minimizes the “communication noise” that plagues traditional workflows, allowing clinicians to quickly locate the right contact, access accurate schedules, and initiate transfers without the need for multiple follow-ups. This efficiency not only saves time but also improves job satisfaction, as staff can complete their tasks within their shifts rather than staying late to catch up on delayed tasks.

Building a Resilient Healthcare System with VectorCare

In a healthcare landscape marked by increasing demands and constrained resources, hospitals need solutions that enhance operational resilience and improve patient care quality. VectorCare’s approach to patient transfers exemplifies this shift by offering a streamlined, unified platform that tackles the root causes of transfer delays and communication inefficiencies. Becker’s data underscores the urgency of these issues, showing that fragmented communication is a widespread challenge with far-reaching consequences for both patient outcomes and staff productivity.

By enabling faster, more efficient patient transfers, VectorCare is helping hospitals save costs, reduce staff burnout, and provide better care. The platform’s ability to cut down ambulance scheduling time to under three minutes is more than a technological achievement – it’s a vital step toward a more connected, resilient healthcare system. As the industry continues to modernize, solutions like VectorCare that prioritize communication and collaboration will play an essential role in building healthcare systems that are not only efficient but also centered on patient and clinician well-being.

Through innovation and a commitment to simplifying patient transfers, VectorCare is leading the way in transforming healthcare communication, ensuring that every patient receives timely, coordinated care and that every clinician can work efficiently, confidently, and effectively.

Browse more articles on how technological innovation is improving the patient logistics landscape in our Journal.

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^{1. “How Communication Inefficiencies Impact Clinician Productivity”, 2024 State of Healthcare Collaboration by TigerConnect and Becker’s Healthcare https://tigerconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-report-state-of-healthcare-collaboration-how-communication-inefficiencies-impact-clinician-productivity.pdf}