When surgeons enter operating rooms at MidState Medical
Center, a state-of-the-art hospital in Meriden, Conn., they take on two
critical roles. Their primary responsibility is patient health, but the second
role they have is to demonstrate best practices and procedures in front of a
virtual classroom. Two specific operating rooms—the Hybrid OR and the Robot
Room—at the medical learning facility enable a global student audience to
observe surgical procedures through videoconferencing technology.
When Gary Blumberg, Hartford Healthcare Collaboration
Services Manager at MidState Medical Center, was charged with selecting audio
equipment for the new, advanced operating rooms in 2013 he had very specific,
nonnegotiable requirements. To avoid the heavy RF interference caused by the
hundreds of surrounding medical devices, Blumberg knew he’d need a system with
cutting-edge wireless technology. For patient privacy purposes, he also
required reliable and advanced encryption capabilities. Headsets that were
comfortable and lightweight were also critical, which required Blumberg to be
selective about the headset chosen—as he knew doctors wouldn’t have an
opportunity to adjust the microphone during surgery.
After witnessing the advanced frequency coordination,
monitoring, and control available with the Shure ULX-D Digital Wireless System
and Wireless Workbench 6, Blumberg enlisted Viju Group and decided to install
four channels of wireless. He was also confident that the system’s AES 256-bit
encryption would provide secure wireless transmission and protect patient
privacy.
“The features we needed from a wireless system for this
installation weren’t optional, they were all must-have requirements,” said
Blumberg. “Frequency management, secure wireless transmission, and a
lightweight, hands-free design are all factors that could potentially interfere
with surgeons’ performance and our patients’ well-being. ULX-D didn’t just meet
these requirements—the system exceeded them. So far, its performance has been
flawless, and we’ve been especially impressed by its set of frequency
management tools—that feature alone is priceless.”
To give students an opportunity to engage directly with
the experts after each procedure, Viju Group also installed the Shure PSM900
Wireless Personal Monitor System in the operating rooms. Two-way communication
between medical students and physicians is coordinated by a control room
technician, who facilitates the discussion from a Shure Microflex 418 Gooseneck
Microphone.
“Virtual learning at MidState Medical Center has brought
an invaluable advantage to students around the globe,” said Blumberg. “For the
future success of medicine, it’s imperative that tomorrow’s doctors have an
opportunity to interact with and learn from today’s leading physicians. ULX-D
is helping us empower the next generation of doctors.”
