Shared devices let a ward or unit phone receive Care Team alerts without a personal staff number. Set up each phone once per facility. It then receives alerts for the locations and task types selected for it.
The Shared devices tab under Settings › Availability
Requirements
Adding, editing, enabling, disabling, or deleting shared devices requires the Management or Notifications Admin role. If Shared devices does not appear under Settings › Availability, check the role with the facility administrator.
Shared devices support US mobile numbers only. Desk phones, landlines, and hospital badges such as Vocera or Ascom cannot receive texts.
They receive text messages only. Push is not supported.
A device needs at least one location and one task type to receive alerts.
What shared devices do
A shared device counts as staff cover for its locations and task types. While it is enabled, patients at those locations can still send requests in Staffing and Staffing & Scheduled mode when no individual staff member is on alerts.
Keeps patient requests open controls this, and it is on by default. Turning it off makes the device notify only: it still receives texts but no longer counts as cover. A notify-only device displays a Notify only badge in the Shared devices list.
Alerts: A shared device receives a text for new patient requests and feedback at its assigned locations. It gets the same alerts as a staff member subscribed to those task types.
One text per alert: If a number is on a shared device and a staff account, the phone still receives one text per alert.
Staff list: Devices that count as cover appear first in the staff list of the Operating Hours edit dialog, marked Shared device.
Add a shared device
Open Settings › Availability › Shared devices, then select the Facility.
Select Add shared device.
Enter a Name, such as “ED charge phone”.
Enter a Mobile number. Vital checks that the number can receive texts and displays Can receive texts when it passes.
Choose the Locations and Task types for the device.
Keep Enabled turned on.
Leave Keeps patient requests open on for the device to count as staff cover. It is on by default. Turn it off to make the device notify only.
Select Add device.
The Add shared device form
Edit, disable, or delete a shared device
Use the controls on the Shared devices list to manage existing devices.
Edit changes the name, number, locations, or task types.
The Enabled switch on each row turns notifications on or off. Disabled devices keep their settings but receive no notifications.
Delete removes the device from the facility after a confirmation. A deleted device cannot be restored.
Vital audits every create, edit, enable, disable, and delete.
The Shared devices list with the Enabled switch, Edit, and Delete
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a ward phone still need saving on each staff account?
No. Set up the phone once as a shared device for the facility.
Will a phone get double texts if it is on a device and a staff account?
No. The phone receives one text per alert.
Can shared devices receive push notifications?
No. Shared devices receive text messages only.
Can a shared device use a non-US number?
No. Shared devices support US mobile numbers only.
How can staff check whether a shared device received an alert?
Vital support can check the delivery history for each shared device. See Contacting Support.