Staff must be introduced to a new pager system and know exactly what to do when a call comes in. A short, structured introduction to the system will be sufficient to get staff using the system effectively.
Run a Briefing Before Day One
Introduce staff to the pager system before it goes live. A 15 minute briefing to explain the why behind the new tool and the basics of the new system will result in staff using the system consistently.
Assign Clear Roles by Zone
Before launching the system determine who is going to cover what area(s)/channels and write it down on a rota. When a staff member is unsure as to who is going to respond to a call, it is most likely to be ignored.
Practice With Live Drills
Practice the scenario by having a few test calls during a quiet time of the day. This will give your staff an idea of what a real alert will feel like. Repeat the practice for the second shift to make sure anyone who worked the first shift gets to practice too.
For Pager System, see https://www.dinggly.com/us.
Agree on Missed-Alert Procedures
Set up simple rules e.g. within a set time frame, someone specific will take the call, as mentioned before it is best to build these into your initial briefing.
Check Understanding After the First Week
Hold a 5 minute team huddle at the end of week 1 and simply ask staff for any issues they are having.