As featured on the BBC news, doctors from around the world gathered at Hammersmith Hospital recently to participate in a Live Surgical Master Class which exploits the latest High Definition (HD) Medical Conferencing equipment to allow doctors to communicate with the consultant as he operates.

Mr Prakash P Punjabi, a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, was performing a delicate heart procedure widely seen as a pioneering and lifesaving operation. Mr Punjabi has helped to develop the procedure whereby heart valves are repaired rather than replaced. In another part of the hospital, clinicians from around the world were paying close attention via video link, and thanks to this state of the art system, were able to converse with the surgeon throughout the procedure.

The Medical Conferencing equipment has been developed by MultiSense Communications using the latest Polycom High Definition video technology. It provides high quality video and audio in the operating theatre and the auditorium enabling the invited audience to observe the procedure in close up and high definition via the camera on the endoscope, see the vital signs and also pose questions to Mr Punjabi - a totally interactive session. Doctors and other healthcare specialists therefore see it as a valuable tool in developing new techniques and for educational purposes.

One clinician commented: "Watching other surgeons work actually brings a different level of experience and education compared to reading books and journals."

Mr Punjabi explains: "Using this technology we can attempt to transfer skills to willing surgeons who are looking to learn about it and understand the concepts so that they can adapt it and use it themselves. Despite the pressure of answering questions whilst performing, patient care is clearly our top priority. As well as providing training, this technology can also be used by hospital trusts to generate extra revenue for the hospital."

"This is an excellent illustration of the use of modern technology to provide advanced surgical training and techniques which is enabling us to provide the best treatment to patients across the NHS. This highly complex procedure could not have been transmitted without the help and solution from MultiSense Communications and Polycom."

Martin Granger, Healthcare Solutions Executive at MultiSense Communications, comments: "There is now confidence in Medical Conferencing solutions which is enabling it to become a seamless, vital tool for every day healthcare use, as our Master Class illustrates. We hope that in future doctors will be able to routinely log on and speak to specialists as they work."

Aaron Payne, VP for UK and Ireland at Polycom, comments: "MultiSense Communications is one of Polycom's fully accredited Healthcare Solution Provider with over 15 years experience in this market. Telemedicine is the perfect example of how video can facilitate efficient collaboration in ultimate HD quality. We're delighted that Mr Punjabi has been able to use it to carry out such an important procedure that is helping to educate surgeons from around the world and generate much needed revenue for the hospital."

Source:
MultiSense Communications
Polycom, Inc.