The goal of technology is to help make people’s lives better, and nowhere is that truer than in healthcare. In an environment where seconds can mean life or death, having accurate information when you need it is vital. That’s why we’ve seen such a rise in healthcare providers using collaboration technology. With the ability to connect and interact in real-time across the globe, doctors can ensure they have the information they need when and where they need it.
Companies like Cisco are seeing this trend as well. In a recent blog post, Smita Dave, Sr. Marketing Manager at Cisco, spoke on this trend:
The right video, voice and content collaboration solutions can meet both clinical and nonclinical needs. These solutions give patients, doctors and hospitals better ways to communicate. They can educate, share information and interact in real-time—and in a more personal and cost-effective manner. For instance, a patient in Edinburgh can consult with his oncologist in London with video conferencing. The oncologist gets a live feed about her patient’s latest labs and vitals on a tablet or smartphone. Based on the data, she asks relevant questions and orders further tests or treatment. This real-time valuable interaction saves time and travel, and enables quick care.
At HARMAN Professional Solutions, I’ve seen this same desire for AV technology in healthcare. Institutions want to be able to view video feeds in sterile (and often RF-sensitive) environments, and because of the sensitivity of their work, they need an interface that is as clean and simple as possible.
Of course, this can manifest in a variety of ways. Sometimes, I see medical schools and learning hospitals that want the ability to use cameras to capture the event. This means not only sending video to professors and students watching in viewing rooms, but also recording the procedures at the press of a button, so they can be reviewed later. Other times, the focus is on the ability to view endoscopic camera feeds and patient charts, while also bringing in other medical professionals on video conference, and still all controlled from a single touch panel.
And this is really just the beginning. With networked AV, you can distribute, record, archive and re-share content across the globe simply and easily, allowing practitioners to collaborate and learn with no limits.
How have you seen AV technology impact the modern hospital? Let us know in the comments!
