What Are the Best Wireless Clock Systems for Hospitals?

A wireless clock system is a must-have hospital amenity for precise timekeeping facility-wide. Health care providers must be aware of the time to ensure patient safety, promote clear communication and coordination, keep accurate records, meet rigorous standards, and comply with stringent laws and regulations. Discover the best wireless clock systems for hospitals and learn how to choose the right one for your facility.

How to Select the Best Hospital Wireless Clock System

Consider these factors when comparing hospital wireless clock systems:

• Time source: The base station of a wireless clock system syncs with a reliable time source and broadcasts the information throughout the facility to ensure all devices consistently display the same time. Find out whether a product uses the simplified network time protocol (SNTP), network time protocol (NTP) or another to gather accurate time data.
• Signal: Wireless clocks communicate via radio frequency (RF) or Wi-Fi signals. Each has unique operational requirements and limitations. Some units use both to maximize the best of both worlds. A system may incur additional expenses, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses the electromagnetic spectrum and charges commercial users regulatory and processing fees. Learn what signal your prospective system uses to synchronize all clocks while minimizing expenses.
• Digitalization: Digital clocks are more suitable for hospitals than analog ones. Digital information is easier to perceive and helps busy hospital workers accurately and effortlessly tell time. Digital wireless clock systems can have additional features, like brightness adjustability. Consider a digital system to reduce human error and enjoy more functionality.
• Power source: Wireless clocks run on alkaline or lithium batteries. Alkaline batteries release energy slowly to power devices efficiently and are more sustainable. Lithium batteries have high energy density and suit more power-hungry units. Buy a system running on your preferred battery type.
• Scalability: A wireless clock system should fit your health care facility’s size to place clocks in all strategic locations. Find out how many devices you can include in your prospective system to determine whether it suits your organization’s needs.
• Two-Way communication: Wireless clock systems capable of Two-Way communication can send correction data and receive diagnostic feedback from clocks. Seek this desirable feature to maintain time synchronization and perform timely adjustments accordingly.
• Durability: Hospitals are subject to heavy use and regular intensive cleaning. Buy wireless clocks made with durable materials to withstand the hazards in health care environments.
• Ease of setup: Some wireless clock designs are configurable without a base station and support straightforward installation. Learn how fast you can get your wireless clock system up and running to minimize disruption.
• Integrability: Some wireless clocks support integrations with hospital software programs. Determine if you need this capability to select a fitting system.

Roundup

• TimeCast™ Wireless Clock System by National Time & Signal: This system simplifies diagnostics with Two-Way communication, legible and digestible readouts on digital clocks, and cloud-based monitoring.
• Bluetooth LED Digital Clock by Primex Sync: This system leverages Bluetooth technology to ease system setup and reduce signal interference.
• SBL 3300 Wireless Clock by Sapling: This system has powerful automation capabilities to satisfy different hospital operational needs. 
• SiteSync IQ® Wireless Clock System by American Time: This system is compatible with legacy wired clocks to achieve synchronization while minimizing costs.

What Are the Best Wireless Clock Systems for Hospitals? Top 4 Products

These four are the best hospital wireless clock systems on the market.

1. TimeCast^™ Wireless Clock System by National Time & Signal

The TimeCast wireless clock system from National Time & Signal consists of a base station and secondary analog or digital clocks. The base station can use a local or internet SNTP time server to keep accurate time. This compact unit is mountable anywhere. You can set it up through Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) or a 24-VDC wall transformer.

TimeCast is capable of Two-Way RF communication. This clock system provider uses license-free industrial, scientific, and medical frequency bands, which means no extra fee.

This system does not need a master transmitter. Its multiple-path flooding technique allows clocks to transmit data to and from each other and to the central base station.

TimeCast can function without the base station. You can manually set the time and date on a clock. The configured device syncs with nearby clocks, repeating the process until all show the same information throughout the building. Alkaline batteries keep everything operational, especially during outages.

This wireless clock system supports cloud-based monitoring and diagnostic reporting to detect and log malfunctions. You can access system health reports through the internet or scheduled emails. Each clock has User Help Display, which shows legible, digestible readouts in English to facilitate setup, confirmation and diagnostics.

TimeCast analog clocks have a shatterproof lens, come in 12-inch and 16-inch black or gray cases, and lend themselves to customization. TimeCast digital clocks are available in four-digit and six-digit versions in bars 2 3/10 inches or 4 inches wide, come in black and gray cases, and have an organic LED display. They have nine brightness levels and dim automatically to compensate for low ambient light levels in surgical suites.

The TimeCast wireless clock system is 100% American-made. National Time & Signal has been manufacturing clock systems since 1877. It is the oldest clock system provider and has installed hundreds of thousands of system clocks in health care and educational facilities.

Key Feature

Two-Way Communication	License-free RF band
Multiple-path flooding technique	Alkaline battery-powered clocks

2. SmartSync^™ Bluetooth Clock System by Primex Sync

Primex Sync leverages SmartSync Bluetooth technology to enable hospital-wide time synchronization. The SmartSync Bridge uses NTP as a clock time data source.

This wireless clock system can consist of up to 250 clocks, forming a network based on the strongest signal. You can expand your system using analog or digital clocks or any combination to suit your operational and aesthetic needs.

The SmartSync Bridge connects to your hospital through PoE or an AC adapter. The clocks are plug-and-play, requiring no transmitters, FCC licensing fees, and configuration with the Ethernet bridge. They automatically authenticate themselves to join the network and connect to the system once daily. 

The Bridge is the only point of access to the network. You can install the clocks anywhere, with a few installation location considerations. The first clock must be within approximately 100 feet of the Bridge, with no walls in between. Individual clocks must be within about 50 feet of one another to transmit data if an internal wall separates them, or within 30 feet if there are two internal walls. Primex Sync recommends one Bridge per floor for multistory health care facilities.

This wireless clock system is failproof. Functional clocks intelligently reroute their communication paths to the others if one or more act up or there is a loss of Bluetooth signal. The system employs adaptive frequency hopping to reduce interference further.

The network automatically adjusts for daylight saving time (DST) to display accurate information year-round. This capability may help reduce your team’s medical errors during DST months and minimize your losses since medical malpractice compensation judgments tend to be higher than expected following the time change.

The Bridge sends reports to Primex Sync’s OneVue^™ — a cloud-based software system accessible through PCs or mobile devices without requiring third-party plug-ins or apps. This solution lets you manage your settings and monitor your network remotely.

Primex Sync’s Bluetooth analog and digital clocks are AC-powered. The analog clocks are available in various dial types and wood frame colors. The company’s Bluetooth digital clocks have bright LED digits viewable from up to 150 feet. Their digits are available in green or red and can be 2 ½ inches or 4 inches high. They support 12-hour and 24-hour formats, can alternate time and date displays, and have three dimmer options.

Key Feature

Wireless network of up to 250 clocks	Intelligent communication path rerouting
Plug-and-play clock setup	Automatic DST adjustment

3. SMA 3000 Master Clock x SBL 3300 Digital Clock System by Sapling

Sapling offers a broad selection of master clocks and wireless clocks, opening numerous system iteration possibilities. This one consists of the most powerful models from the SMA series master clock and the SBL 3000 series digital wireless clock.

The SMA 3000 can receive time from any SNTP or NTP server, with the option to gather data from GPS for more accurate timekeeping. It sends out a signal to the SBL 3300s in the network. Each acts as a repeater and a transmitter, broadcasting the time data to neighboring clocks once a minute to ensure all are in sync.

All secondary clocks operate on patented frequency-hopping technology. This innovation ensures the signals reliably stay within the license-free 915-928 MHz range to avoid interfering with other wireless devices in the building.

The master clock has a backlit two-line LCD and a rubber button keypad for advanced programming. It can come with up to eight programmable relays to control various third-party systems via a contact closure. You can set up to 800 events — such as lighting and bell scheduling — or 255 groups of events.

The SMA 3000 can prompt SBL 3300s to display “Bell” at user-defined items to remind staff of events like shift changes or medication rounds. It can also command digital clocks to display “Fire” when the alarm system interfaces with it. This master clock has a fully functional web interface for remote access.

The SBL 3300 can display four or six digits 2 ½ inches or 4 inches wide. It can show time in a 12-hour or 24-hour format and an alternative time/date display in United States and international formats. Its standard red LED display has programmable brightness and amber, green and white alternatives. 

This digital clock is available in 24-volt, 110-VAC and 230-VAC power options and three mounting methods. It wirelessly receives time change correction through its internal antenna. It can receive a prescheduled countdown command from the SMA 3000 and features a time loss notification by flashing the icon. 

The SBL 3300 can interface with various Sapling accessories, including the Buzzer, Elapsed Timer Control Panel, Temperature Sensor and USB Programming Cable. It has two front push buttons for easy programming.

Key Feature

Patented frequency-hopping technology	Hundreds of programmable events
Extensive display customizability	High interoperability

4. SiteSync IQ^® Wireless Clock System by American Time

The SiteSync IQ wireless system controller receives a time signal from the internet via Ethernet or satellites via a GPS receiver. It transmits it to every clock in the network for correction and synchronization through radio frequency, whose FCC license American Time manages for you.

This master clock is compatible with various accessories to expand your installation options. Select the GPS Sync option to set it up somewhere without an Ethernet connection. The receiver antenna should be on your building’s roof for optimum performance. Extend the GPS receiver’s standard 15-foot cable to 100 feet, if necessary.

The controller supports automatic DST adjustments and can integrate with up to six wired or wireless signal circuits, including bells, doors, lights, and tone generators.

The SiteSync IQ controller works with American Time’s maintenance-free wireless analog and digital clocks. The analog clocks support plug-and-play installation, continue operation without batteries during brief power outages, are available in several cases, and can feature your organization’s logo on the clock face.

The digital clocks have an ultrabright, tall LED display in green or red for enhanced visibility. Their lightweight aluminum frames are more durable and recyclable because of anodization. They are available in four-digit and six-digit options, which are 2 ½ inches and 4 inches wide, with an option to display the date. These locks support various mounting methods. You can enable Code Blue, elapsed time indicator and countdown functions on surface-mounted and flush-mounted six-digit units when paired with a timer control station.

The SiteSync IQ wireless system is suitable for retrofits, allowing you to keep your existing clocks until they fail. Its controller is interoperable with legacy wired clocks from many brands, including Dukane, Honeywell, Lathem, Simplex, and Standard Electric.

American Time’s wireless clock system can handle an unlimited number of devices. It can come with a 5-watt, 10-watt or 30-watt transmitter to reach all clocks in your facility without boosters. You can manage and schedule from anywhere through the online portal Remote Connect. 

Key Feature

Legacy wired clock support	Wired and wireless signal circuit integrations
Versatile master clock installation	FCC radio frequency license management

Adopt the Best Wireless Clock System for Your Hospital

National Time & Signal, Primex Sync, Sapling and American Time have strong arguments for offering hospitals the best wireless clock systems. Reach out to all manufacturers to learn more about their products and determine which one fits your health care organization’s needs.