# Vocera Communications, now part of Stryker

> Vocera Communications builds the hands-free, voice-controlled communication tools that hospitals use to connect care teams in real time. Founded in 2000 and inspired by the Star Trek communicator badge, Vocera's wearable Badge and Smartbadge, plus its Vina app and Engage intelligent-workflow platform, let clinicians reach a colleague by name, role, or group with a single voice command. Used in roughly 2,300 facilities worldwide and integrated with more than 150 clinical and operational systems, Vocera went public in 2012 (NYSE: VCRA) and was acquired by medical-technology giant Stryker in February 2022 for about $3.09 billion, where it now anchors Stryker's digital care coordination portfolio.

- **Founded:** 2000
- **Headquarters:** San Jose, California, United States
- **Founders:** Robert Shostak (Founder; conceived the voice-controlled badge while at SRI International (Stanford Research Institute)), Brent Lang (Long-time executive, later President, CEO and Chairman; led the 2012 IPO)
- **Team size:** ~500+ employees (as an operating unit of Stryker, which has ~53,000 total)
- **Products:** Vocera Badge, Vocera Smartbadge (V-Series / V5000), Vocera Vina, Vocera Edge, Vocera Platform / Engage
- **Notable:** Shipped the first hands-free, voice-controlled communication badge in 2002., IPO on the NYSE in 2012 under ticker VCRA., Vocera Smartbadge named to TIME's list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2020.

## Products & services

- **Vocera Badge** — Lightweight, wearable, hands-free voice-controlled communication device that lets staff call colleagues by name, role, or group over Wi-Fi.
- **Vocera Smartbadge (V-Series / V5000)** — Touchscreen wearable combining hands-free voice with secure messaging, alerts, and a 'OK Vocera' wake command; named to TIME's 100 Best Inventions of 2020.
- **Vocera Vina** — Smartphone app that unifies secure calls, texts, and clinical alerts with patient context for care teams.
- **Vocera Edge** — Mobile clinical communication and collaboration platform with secure messaging and EHR integration.
- **Vocera Platform / Engage** — Intelligent workflow and integration engine that connects 150+ clinical and operational systems (EHRs, nurse call, smart beds, ventilators, monitors) and routes alarms and alerts to the appropriate caregiver.

## Achievements

- Shipped the first hands-free, voice-controlled communication badge in 2002.
- IPO on the NYSE in 2012 under ticker VCRA.
- Vocera Smartbadge named to TIME's list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2020.
- Deployed in ~2,300 facilities and nearly 1,900 hospitals worldwide.
- Acquired by Stryker for ~$3.09 billion in 2022, one of the largest healthcare-communication deals.

## Latest updates

- **2022-01** — Stryker announces definitive agreement to acquire Vocera for ~$3.09 billion.
- **2022-02** — Stryker completes the acquisition of Vocera Communications (Feb 23, 2022).
- **2022-09** — Vocera, now part of Stryker, introduces the latest evolution of its hands-free communication for healthcare workers.

## Links

- Website: https://vocera.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/vocera-comm
- Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/voceracom
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VoceraCommunications
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VoceraCommunications

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/vocera-communications-now-part-of-stryker
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-11