Vocera, which offers specially designed smartphones, communications pendants (or badges) and accompanying software for the healthcare industry, announced plans to unveil a "proof of concept" smartphone application for BlackBerry users at the HIMSS event in Atlanta, GA next week. Vocera also notes that its devices and client applications integrate with a number of other mobile health solutions including:

> AeroScout for real-time location-based services
> AirStrip for FDA approved telemetry waveforms
> Epocrates for physician drug guides
> PatientKeeper for physician workflow

Vocera said it will be previewing its proof of concept app for BlackBerry devices at its booth as well as BlackBerry maker, Research In Motion's booth at the event. We wonder whether RIM's go-to smartphone pager application partner, Wallace Wireless will also be demoing at the RIM booth -- sounds like Vocera's proof of concept app might be a competitive offering.

According to Vocera, more than 600 healthcare organizations, including Community Health Networks and Memorial Sloan Kettering use Vocera's communications systems for nurses and other clinical staff.

For more from Vocera, read the company's press release