Audio visual communication in medicine

AV bridges the healthcare gap

The benefits that audio visual communications can bring to the world of medicine are immense and diverse.  Very high tech telemedicine applications can, quite literally, save lives and raise the standard of public health.  In addition well designed audio and visual information delivery can significantly increase the efficiency of medical facilities and the provision of improved, often interactive entertainment to patients has very real potential in improving patient outcomes. 

Telemedicine and medical video conferencing

Knowledge and information are vital in any medical situation, but that information may not always be available on the spot.  Telemedicine bridges that gap by using audio visual communication to supply healthcare delivery at the patient's location from a remote source and where doctors or other medical expertise is located.  

The two locations may be relatively close, such as a paramedic team requiring assistance from a consultant in a local Accident and Emergency department.  However, in other parts of the world, the distance may be vast and telemedicine is today bringing modern healthcare to rural communities in countries such as India and within many African countries where most healthcare facilities are located in urban areas and often very distant from large numbers of the population who live in rural areas.



If telemedicine is the communication of information from the expert to the scene of need and at the time of need, then medical video conferencing is the communication of information for planning, teaching and from peer to peer.  There is, of course, a considerable overlap in resources and the telemedicine model can be used in a teaching environment as effectively as in medical video conferencing to supply emergency back up.

Video conferencing has evolved dramatically in the last five years and can now enable participants to communicate almost as if they were enjoying a face to face meeting.  High Definition (HD) means that the quality of the visual representation is optimised and that the audio quality is excellent. The ever-increasing robustness of IP networks has also meant a reduced risk of interruption or failure in the connection.  

When the obvious benefits of zero travelling time and travel costs are considered, then video conferenced meetings and other more informal interactions will undoubtedly become increasingly held in virtual space and the risk of loss in communications quality will diminish as technology evolves.

Audio visual communications and digital signage in hospitals and other medical facilities

Hospitals are usually large buildings, often located over several sites, all of which need to communicate to their staff and to their customers, their patients. Audio visual communications can make the dissemination of information much more effective for both groups.

Traditionally, a hospital entrance foyer will attempt to navigate visitors to their required destination using a combination of static wayfinding signs.  The limitation here is the 'static'.  Although  static signage still has a role to play, dynamic signage offers many advantages, not least of which is the ability to update information in real time.  A room change or new availability can be advertised immediately or, in case of an incident of any kind, a new route can be announced, all without the need to visit the area, which may well be a considerable distance from the administrator's desk.

Wayfinding kiosks are an innovation that brings interactivity to the concept of signage.  We are increasingly familiar with touch screens on everything from our telephones to buying tickets at the local railway station; wayfinding kiosks are no different.  

It is frustrating not to be able to find directions to a particular clinic on a large wayfinding board, but at a wayfinding kiosk, the required location is simply typed in and the directions to its locations are then shown on screen.

Waiting rooms are a space where audio visual facilities, particularly digital signage, really come into their own.  Time waiting is inevitably frustrating and reading an old copy of a magazine does nothing to inform or entertain.  Digital signage, on the other hand, can provide information on when and where the next patient is to be seen and simultaneously provide relevant medical information.  

For example, within a diabetic clinic, information can be running to highlight tips for a diabetic diet. Taking this a step further, advertising can be incorporated in to the message.  This can be as simple as the opening times and facilities of the hospital cafe or, in a private facility, could, where appropriate, include information on other elective procedures, such as cosmetic surgery.

The key advantage of digital signage is that is controlled from a central location and managed in real time, though local over-ride can be accommodated. This may be required, for example, so that a central administrator controls site wide information from details of cafe facilities to the provision of pre-prepared clinic-specific information, but the administrator for each clinic controls the throughput of patients.  

Patient entertainment - the role and opportunities for audio visual presentations

Providing in-patient entertainment is perhaps the most obvious application for AV within the hospital environment, but is also one that, to some extent at least, has been largely overlooked.  This is particularly true in paediatric units where, not only is entertainment essential for the morale and well-being of patients, but there are often educational needs that the hospital needs to address for school-age patients. Here, audio visual technology can allow patients to receive tailored lessons and projects specific to their needs and ongoing course requirements.  

Video conferencing can be used to bring these patients into their own classroom and join normal lessons virtually using a webcam that feeds into the video conferencing control system.  

Where this is not appropriate or desirable, teachers can put together lessons for in-patient students, ensuring the they can return to normal schooling as easily as possible and with the minimum of catching up to do.  

Special requirements' entertainment

Psychiatric units often have special requirements when choosing equipment installations and this applies to entertainment equipment no less than any other.  Conventional TV units are expensive and somewhat delicate; certainly not always robust enough to withstand abnormal use.   

A centralised controlled media source that manages a number of LCD monitors is particularly appropriate for units caring for disoriented or disturbed residents where damage to electrical equipment is an ongoing concern, both in terms of patient safety and the financial cost of replacing damaged items.  

LCDs are simpler, technically, than traditional alternatives and not only less expensive, but also more robust, even to the point of offering weather resistance, which further widens the range of areas in which they can be deployed.

Summary

The range of applications for the use of audio visual technology in medicine and medical facilities is still in its infancy but the potential for growth is vast.  proAV's knowledge and experience in designing, implementing and deploying complex AV and video conferencing systems allows us to bring intelligent solutions to new and challenging projects and to help our clients fulfil the potential AV technology offers.

We are able to bring technologies used in one sector to new areas and use the cross pollination of ideas, experience and expertise to provide truly innovative solutions.

Global reach and 24/7 support

proAV's global reach provides support and on site expertise across the globe and means that projects can be expanded and scaled to increase their geographical range in complete confidence that technical support is always available, 24/7 and anywhere in the world.

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