Hospitals rely on reliable communication systems that perform flawlessly—every hour of every day. From code blue calls, plain-language protocols, public announcements, and staff duress alerts, these systems form an integrated communication system for hospitals to address everyday routine uses and life-safety alerts.

Overcoming Modern Healthcare Communication Challenges

Healthcare campuses are complex. They include critical care units, public areas, administrative offices, and outdoor zones—each with unique acoustic and operational needs. A well-designed system must:

• Reach every corner of the facility, inside and out
• Deliver intelligible, secure, and prioritized messages
• Support both daily operational messaging and life safety communication
• Integrate with systems like nurse call, security cameras, and access control

Achieving this balance requires a design that is scalable, flexible, and redundant.

Design Hospital Communication Systems that Improve Patient & Staff Safety and Coordination

Optimize Coverage and Message Intelligibility

In healthcare environments, clear communication is essential. From busy corridors to patient care areas, hospitals must ensure announcements and alerts remain understandable—even in high-noise conditions.

Strategically placed speakers, visual indicators, and digital displays help ensure messages are both heard and seen throughout the facility. During system planning, acoustic modeling and intelligibility testing can help determine optimal placement and coverage.

Prioritizing message clarity helps ensure critical alerts—such as emergency notifications, patient codes, or security announcements—are not missed.

Integrate With Nurse Call and Security Systems

Hospitals depend on multiple systems working together to support patient care and maintain safety. Communication platforms should integrate with technologies such as nurse call systems, access control, video surveillance, and VoIP phone systems.

When these systems are connected, alerts and notifications can be distributed quickly to the appropriate staff, improving response times and overall coordination.

Systems built on open, IP-based standards also make it easier to expand functionality and connect with existing infrastructure.

Enable Centralized Management with Local Reliability

Healthcare campuses often require centralized communication during emergencies while maintaining local control for daily operations. Effective communication systems allow administrators to manage announcements across departments or buildings from a centralized platform.

At the same time, distributed endpoints and redundant network paths help ensure communication remains operational even if part of the network experiences disruption.

This combination of centralized oversight and local resilience helps maintain reliable communication in both routine and critical situations.

Deliver Multi-Channel Messaging

Hospitals must communicate with a wide range of audiences, including staff, patients, and visitors. Relying on a single communication method may not reach everyone quickly enough during critical situations.

A layered communication strategy—combining audio announcements, visual alerts, digital signage, and mobile notifications—helps ensure important information is delivered through multiple channels. This redundancy increases the likelihood that messages are received and understood.

Build a Scalable, Future-Ready Communication Infrastructure

Healthcare facilities continue to evolve as services expand and new technologies are introduced. Communication systems designed around network-based infrastructure make it easier to scale coverage and add new capabilities over time.

Using PoE-powered network endpoints can simplify installation, reduce infrastructure costs, and support expansion as facilities grow or renovate.

Strengthen Everyday Operations and Emergencies

A resilient communication infrastructure should support both daily and emergency needs:

• Daily Operations: Overhead paging, staff coordination, patient transport, visitor updates
• Life Safety Scenarios: Code calls, lockdowns, weather warnings, and active shooter alerts

Rather than operating in silos, these functions should run on a shared IP backbone. Software-defined control can direct messages to the right zones, improving response speed and reducing system complexity.

Why Hospitals Choose Valcom’s Healthcare Communication & Life Safety Solutions

Valcom’s solutions are designed to help hospitals build resilient, integrated communication systems that enhance both daily operations and emergency readiness.

• IP-Based Infrastructure: Standard network cabling and PoE power allow easy deployment in new or existing buildings.
• Scalable Architecture: Start with one department and expand campus-wide without redesigning the system.
• Multi-Modal Delivery: Combine voice paging, visual signage, and desktop alerts through one unified interface.
• Integration-Ready: Open protocols support connectivity with nurse call, security, and panic-button systems.
• Operational Reliability: Decentralized control ensures communication continuity—even if part of the network fails.

Valcom helps hospitals enhance situational awareness, streamline workflows, and strengthen life-safety communication—all through a flexible, standards-based platform.

A resilient communication infrastructure is vital to patient safety and operational efficiency. With Valcom’s healthcare communication systems, your facility can achieve seamless coordination and rapid emergency response — all through a scalable, integrated platform.

CONTACT VALCOM TODAY TO REQUEST A DEMO OR SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS YOUR HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATION NEEDS

Make Our Schools Safe Announces Partnership with Valcom to Advance School Safety Initiatives

Parkland, Florida – [March 9, 2026] – Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS), a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering students and educators to create and maintain a culture of school safety, is proud to announce a new partnership with Valcom.

Valcom develops communication and notification technologies that help organizations deliver critical information quickly and clearly. Their systems are used in schools and other public facilities to support day-to-day communication and emergency awareness.

Through this partnership, Valcom has joined Make Our Schools Safe as an Annual Partner, supporting the organization’s ongoing efforts to strengthen school safety initiatives across the country. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to helping schools improve preparedness, response, and awareness around safety.

Make Our Schools Safe was founded by Lori and Ilan Alhadeff following the tragic loss of their daughter Alyssa in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Since its founding, the organization has worked to advocate for Alyssa’s Law, expand student-led MOSS Clubs nationwide, and invest in programs that help schools build safer environments for students and staff.

“Partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to protecting students are essential to advancing this mission,” said Lori Alhadeff, Co-founder and President of Make Our Schools Safe. “We are grateful for Valcom’s support and their dedication to helping communities prioritize school safety.”

Valcom’s partnership will help support Make Our Schools Safe’s national initiatives, expanding our student-led MOSS Clubs and leadership programs, and community awareness around best practices in school safety.

Together, Make Our Schools Safe and Valcom aim to elevate conversations around school safety and support initiatives that help protect students across the nation. For more information about Make Our Schools Safe and its programs, visit www.makeourschoolssafe.org

Media Contacts
Valcom
Todd Alford, Vice President, Marketing
talford@valcom.com

Make Our Schools Safe
Lori Alhadeff, CEO
Lori@makeourschoolssafe.org
(609) 335-8226

Tara Murray, Development Director
Tara@makeourschoolssafe.org
(954) 695-6327

SeQent and Valcom Partner to Deliver Plant-Wide Alarm Notification Through Industrial Paging and PA Systems

Toronto, ON – February 18, 2026 – SeQent, a leader in real-time alarm notification and plant-floor communication software, and Valcom, a trusted manufacturer of industrial paging, intercom, building communication solutions, and life safety emergency notifications today announced a partnership to deliver integrated alarm notification and workforce communication solutions for industrial environments.
The partnership brings together SeQent’s real-time alarm notification and escalation platform with Valcom’s proven industrial paging and PA systems, engineered for demanding factory, warehouse, and distribution center environments where uptime and clarity matter. Together, the companies enable manufacturers, utilities, and critical infrastructure operators to ensure critical alarms reach personnel across plant floors, control rooms, and distributed facilities.

“Industrial teams need absolute confidence that critical alarms will be heard, understood, and acted on, especially in high-noise, high-risk environments,” said Joseph Salz, Director, Channel Sales, SeQent. “By partnering with Valcom, we’re extending SeQent’s intelligent alarm management and escalation workflows into robust, plant-wide paging and notification systems that customers already trust for mission-critical operations.”

Through the integration, SeQent’s platform ingests alarms and events from control systems and operational technologies, applies intelligent routing and escalation rules, and delivers notifications across multiple channels, including Valcom’s industrial paging and notification infrastructure. This approach ensures alerts reach operators, maintenance teams, and safety personnel wherever they are working, without relying solely on screens, radios, or mobile devices.

“Valcom has long focused on making sure important messages are clearly heard and seen in industrial environments where reliability and clarity matter most,” said Jonas Baranauskas, Product Manager – Industrial, Valcom. “Partnering with SeQent allows us to connect our communication systems directly into intelligent alarm and event workflows, helping customers respond faster, operate safer, and reduce operational risk.”

The combined SeQent and Valcom solution is well suited for manufacturers, process industries, utilities, and other industrial organizations seeking to improve alarm response consistency, safety communications, and operational coordination, even in environments with limited connectivity or challenging infrastructure.

Contacts:
Valcom: Todd Alford
Vice President Marketing
Email: Talford@valcom.com

SeQent: Lisa McGregor
Vice President, Marketing
Phone: 1-647-222-4675
Email: Lisa.mcgregor@seqent.com
www.seqent.com

Finding the Right Tone: Choosing the Best AI Voice for Daily Communication

Why Everyday AI Voice Design Impacts User Engagement

Not all messages are created equal — and neither are the voices that deliver them.

• Everyday voices support routine communication such as school announcements, workplace updates, or general assistance prompts, where tone and relatability matter more than urgency.
• Emergency voices must cut through noise, stress the importance while remaining clear, authoritative, and calm.

Selecting the right AI voice means balancing intelligibility, tone, emotional impact, and listener trust based on both the message and the market it serves.

Characteristics of an AI Voice for Daily Announcements

• Approachability: Users respond better to voices that sound natural and welcoming. Studies by Nielsen Norman Group found that people prefer voice assistants that balance warmth and professionalism. (NNGroup, 2023)
• Familiarity: Providing a choice of voices (gender, accent, or tone) can increase user satisfaction and reduce fatigue. (ScienceDirect, 2023)
• Brand Consistency: For organizations, the everyday voice should align with brand identity — whether that’s calm and professional (healthcare) or upbeat and inviting (education).

Balancing Professionalism and Personality

• Tone: Warm, conversational, friendly
• Pacing: Natural conversational speed
• Pitch: Neutral or slightly lower to convey ease
• Accent: Regional or localized, depending on audience familiarity
• Emotion: Positive, professional, and approachable

Example: “Good morning, students. Today’s announcements will begin in five minutes.” This voice style helps build familiarity and comfort — so that when an emergency message does occur, users recognize the system and respond instinctively.

Market-Specific Considerations

Different markets respond differently to voice characteristics. Here are examples of how tone and delivery may vary by environment:

Benefits of Personalization & Custom Voice Options

The decision isn’t just about choosing between a “male” or “female” voice — it’s about creating the right auditory experience for each context. A mismatched tone can lead to misunderstanding or even noncompliance in an emergency.

Choosing a voice design is a part of your overall communication strategy, not an afterthought. Considerations should include:

• The environmental acoustics where messages play
• User demographics and accessibility needs
• Cultural and linguistic nuances
• Integration with visual or text alerts

By treating AI voice selection as a safety and branding decision combined, organizations can create more effective communication systems across all scenarios.

Valcom Expertise in Voice-Driven Communications

Let Us Help

As you deliver routine updates or critical life-safety alerts, the right voice not only informs but also instills confidence. For emergency alerts, choose clear, authoritative calm. For daily communication, choose friendly, brand-aligned warmth.

Remember, AI voice selection should be a collaborative decision between your technology provider, safety team, and communication experts — because every voice speaks for your organization when it matters most.

Ready to leap? Contact Valcom today to find the right solution for your organization.

Integrated Life Safety Communication Systems

In today’s connected world, the speed and accuracy of emergency communication can make all the difference. Valcom’s integrated life safety communication systems bring together access control, fire panels, nurse call systems, and mass notification platforms into a single seamless network—ensuring that critical alerts reach the right people at the right time on every channel.

The Challenge: Fragmented Safety Systems

Many organizations—from school districts and hospitals to manufacturing facilities—rely on a mix of standalone safety systems. Each may function well independently, but the lack of integration between them can delay response times, create confusion, and compromise safety. When seconds matter, these silos can make the difference between an organized response and chaos. A unified communication platform is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Valcom’s Solutions: One Platform, Total Integration

Valcom bridges these gaps through advanced emergency communication integration, connecting systems across industries and facilities, including:

• Access Control Systems – Instantly trigger lockdowns or perimeter alerts in K-12 schools and corporate campuses when a security breach occurs.
• Camera Systems – Integrate with surveillance and analytics platforms to provide real-time visual context during events. Security personnel can receive synchronized alerts with live video feeds to verify incidents and respond faster.
• Nurse Call Systems – Route priority alerts directly to staff in hospitals or senior living centers, improving coordination and response times.
• Mass Notification Software – Fully InformaCast and Intrado Revolution compatible and supportive of Common Alerts Protocol (CAP) Alerts, Valcom platforms extend messages across PA, VoIP, mobile, and desktop endpoints for complete unified notification coverage.

This interoperability ensures that every subsystem—regardless of manufacturer—communicates seamlessly within one safety network.

How Valcom Connects: APIs, Relays and Real-Time Communication

Valcom’s flexibility lies in how it connects. Our systems use open APIs, contact closures, network relays, and GPIO interfaces to integrate directly with third-party technologies. Whether triggering an emergency lockdown from an access control panel, syncing a camera system to automated audio and visual messaging, or pushing notifications through mass alert software, Valcom provides real-time data exchange and command synchronization. This level of connectivity enables customization and scalability without complex middleware—ideal for IT and facility teams managing multi-site operations.

Built for Everyday Use & Emergencies

Unlike systems that sit idle until disaster strikes, Valcom platforms support daily operational communication as naturally as they handle emergencies. Schools use them for morning announcements and bell schedules; hospitals use them for patient calls and shift changes; factories use them for paging and routine safety reminders. Because staff and students interact with the system every day, familiarity builds muscle memory—making it second nature to use during a crisis. When urgent communication is needed, users already know how to act, what to expect, and how to respond.

Why Integration Works

A unified system simplifies control, enhances awareness, and increases confidence across all environments:

• Faster response through automated triggers and synchronized alerts
• Reduced risk of human error with centralized management
• Scalable design that grows with the organization
• Better compliance with safety and security standards

The result is a cohesive safety ecosystem where K-12 campuses, healthcare networks, industrial complexes, and enterprise organizations can communicate quickly.

Valcom can integrate with various third-party software and hardware providers. To review this list, click the “Integration Solutions” button below.

Integration Solutions

Engineered for the Future of Enterprise Safety

Valcom’s approach to enterprise safety integration extends beyond compatibility—it’s about sustainability and evolution. Designed to adapt to emerging technologies, our systems provide organizations with a reliable, future-ready foundation for both everyday communication and critical alerts. Whether you’re modernizing a single facility or managing communication across an entire district or enterprise, Valcom delivers a single, connected, intelligent platform. Learn More about our Valcom Enterprise Maintenance and Security Solution by clicking below.

Discover VEMASS

Stay Connected. Stay Protected.

When seconds matter, trust the power of integration. Valcom’s unified life safety communication systems deliver clarity, speed, and reliability for every moment—routine or critical—because alerts and familiarity with the systems save lives. Read more about how Valcom’s life safety solutions help organizations keep people safe and informed.

Populations change. Messages stay clear.

Life safety is nothing new. It has been around for years. In fact, K-12 schools have long recognized the importance of structured communication – especially during emergencies. During the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis era, schools conducted “Duck and Cover!” drills. In the 1980s, the phrase “Stop! Drop! And Roll!” was taught to Generation X. Today, school-aged children are part of what the media refers to as the “lockdown generation.” While emergency scenarios have evolved over the years, the protocol for many K-12 schools remains unchanged: perform drills and keep the language simple and easy to understand to ensure the safety of your population.

But what about organizations that don’t have a consistent population? Hospitals, airports, and business campuses face unique challenges as people come and go throughout the day, and many of them are unfamiliar with the facility.

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Preparedness and Real-Time Situational Awareness

Unlike schools that follow standardized drills, facilities with transient populations, such as hospitals, require messaging that adapts to the situation. Instead of using “Code Pink” for an infant abduction, a plain-language alert — “Infant abduction, mother/baby floor, secure exits” — is more effective at getting the population’s attention and helping them become aware of their surroundings. Valcom systems allow administrators to create real-time, location-specific instructions that are broadcast out to overhead paging speakers, LED/LCD message boards, and IP HelpPoints. This agility transforms emergency communications and helps organizations to move from reactive to proactive in emergencies.

Integration with Existing Systems

Valcom’s flexibility makes it easy to integrate with existing systems, including door access systems, camera systems, and software-based platforms. When these systems are all connected, an organization has a unified platform that instantly alerts people across multiple channels and methods – Valcom systems help you reach every eye and ear. But what about when there is an emergency in one area of the building that doesn’t affect other parts of the building? It is simple: Valcom’s system allows administrators to issue messages to one area of the building while maintaining operations in another. Scalability is key for many organizations, such as hospitals, airports, and corporate, commercial, and industrial campuses that span multiple buildings.

Everyday Communication Built-In

While Valcom systems excel during emergencies, their primary function is day-to-day communications. Paging staff, shift change alerts, visitor notifications, and routine announcements all flow through the same network. The dual use of a Valcom system means end users are already familiar with the interface, so when an emergency does happen, they already know the system and what to do next.

To learn about how we work in healthcare, K-12 and the commercial & industrial markets click the images below.

Healthcare

Commercial & Industrial

K-12

Want to learn more how Valcom can assist your organization with Life Safety Solutions. Complete the form below to let us know what your challenges are.

Why Hospitals Are Moving to Plain Language Protocols and How Valcom Delivers It

If you’ve worked in a hospital or even visited one, you’ve probably heard color codes over the public address paging system — “Code Blue,” “Code Red,” “Code Silver.” Helpful? Sometimes. Consistent? Not really. Across the U.S., recommendations from hospital associations and federal emergency associations advocate for replacing color codes with plain-language protocol alerts that everyone—clinicians, staff, patients, and visitors—can immediately understand. Here’s what’s driving the shift and how Valcom helps hospitals eliminate codes and deliver plain language protocols through its communication solutions, making implementation easy.

Why the shift to plain language?

Clarity under stress. Federal emergency management encourages the use of plain language to facilitate quick coordination among responders from different organizations. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) defines plain language as avoiding codes and jargon—especially when multiple agencies are involved. While NIMS mandates plain language for mutual-aid scenarios, it strongly encourages its use for day-to-day operations, as it reduces confusion and speeds action. Not every hospital or agency, such as law enforcement, uses a standardized code language. For example, a “Code Silver” in one hospital may mean a missing elderly patient, but in another hospital, it could mean an active shooter threat. Coded language can lead to miscommunication and a delay in response time.

Safety and Standardization

Many hospital associations nationwide have concluded that color codes vary too widely between facilities, which can cause confusion and slow response—particularly for float staff, travelers, and new hires. Several hospital associations from states such as Iowa, Missouri, Texas, New Jersey, and Colorado, among others, promote the adoption of standardized, plain-language (e.g., “Active Shooter—First Floor—Shelter in Place”) to improve transparency and reduce errors. It’s essential to consult with your state’s hospital association to determine if plain language protocol is mandatory or voluntary in your state.
Bottom line: Plain language clearly states what’s happening and where, so people can take action.

So, What Does Plain Language Sound Like?

Many toolkits recommend consistent, descriptive phrasing that names the hazard, location, and action.

For example:

• “Infant Abduction – Mother/Baby Unit – Secure Exits”
• “Active Shooter- ED Lobby – Run, Hide, Fight”

How Does Valcom Help Hospitals?

Pair Audio with Visual Notification for Inclusive Communication

• Valcom Speakers & Horns (ceiling, wall, and clean room speakers as well as vandal-resistant horns) deliver crisp voice paging emergency communication across many areas across a hospital, including patient and visitor areas, lobby, cafeterias, and others.
• The VIP-LC22 Series is an LCD display with speakers and flashers, equipped with customizable templates that display hazard, location, and action in an easy-to-read format.

Launch the Right Alert Announcements with Valcom’s Site Manager

• Valcom’s Site Manager delivers tailored solutions to address the diverse needs of healthcare facilities. Valcom helps healthcare delivers plain language protocol by tailoring its products for your specific needs.

Monitor, Manage and Prove Readiness

• Valcom’s VEMASS solution provides a real-time status of all IP endpoints and software components across multiple locations—ensuring your alerting system is healthy before you need it.

What About Code Blue?

What about those scenarios where a Code Blue is in use? Many states still allow a few legacy color codes while transitioning to plain language equivalents. Valcom recommends that you check your state association’s guidance and align your scripts accordingly. Additionally, understanding how Valcom helps healthcare deliver plain language protocol will ensure accurate and rapid response during such critical events.

Ready to Modernize Your Healthcare Communications?

Valcom helps healthcare systems transition from color codes to clear, plain language protocols without disrupting existing communication infrastructure. Our solutions include paging servers, IP speakers, visual signage, mobile activation, and enterprise monitoring. Please reach out to us to learn more about how Valcom helps healthcare facilities deliver clear, concise protocols effectively and efficiently to meet the specific needs of your facility.

Upgrade Without the Overhaul: Benefits of a Hybrid Paging System

When it comes to upgrading your paging system, ripping out everything and starting over isn’t always practical. Many organizations still rely on analog paging systems for daily operations and emergency alerts, but also want to move toward more flexible, IP-based communication. That’s where Valcom’s ezIP hybrid paging system shines. Designed to help organizations transition from analog to IP paging at their own pace, ezIP bridges the gap between legacy infrastructure and modern network-based solutions, without sacrificing reliability, coverage, or clarity.

What is a Hybrid Paging System

A hybrid paging system combines traditional analog paging equipment, such as 25V/70V speakers and wiring, with IP-based paging endpoints. Valcom’s ezIP solution allows healthcare facilities, industrial facilities, and smaller organizations to preserve existing infrastructure while adding IP speakers and advanced communication features on the same network.
Whether you’re managing emergency notifications in healthcare or facility-wide announcements in manufacturing, ezIP helps you modernize while staying cost-effective.

Top Benefits of Valcom’s ezIP Hybrid Paging System

Analog Compatibility Saves Time & Money

One of the biggest concerns with VoIP paging upgrades is cost. ezIP is compatible with analog speakers, even those from other manufacturers, so there’s no need to replace your entire system. You can keep what works and upgrade only where needed. This dramatically reduces labor and infrastructure costs.

Flexible & Scalable Paging

With ezIP, you can add IP speakers and expand coverage as your organization grows. New zones, buildings, or areas can be added without running new analog cabling. The system scales easily across campuses, multi-floor facilities, and networked locations.

VoIP & SIP Phone System Integration

Many organizations are moving to VoIP phone systems. ezIP integrates with SIP-based systems, ensuring your paging system works seamlessly with your IP phones and VoIP infrastructure, thereby helping to unify communication across platforms.

Future-Proof with Software Upgradability

ezIP’s IP endpoints are software-upgradable, allowing you to unlock features like two-way talkback, shift tones, and compatibility with third-party mass notification platforms as your needs evolve.

If you’re looking to modernize your paging and emergency communication systems without a complete infrastructure overhaul, then a hybrid paging system with Valcom’s ezIP is your answer. It’s cost-effective, scalable, easy to manage, and designed for real-world compatibility.
Make your next paging upgrade smarter, not harder. With Valcom ezIP, you can future-proof your communications and meet today’s demands with confidence.