The training centre at the University Hospital of Cologne has a sophisticated new audio video system which helps medical students practise consultations and procedures of different types and learn from detailed analysis of their own performance. Supplied and installed by inSynergie, a German specialist in multimedia control solutions, the AV package combines inSynergie's own software with Geutebruck re_porter and GeViScope video platforms.
The training centre's practice facilities comprise an operating theatre, two trauma rooms, two emergency treatment rooms and six patient consulting rooms. Training exercises involve patients or actors as well as students and are recorded by teaching staff from four central editing desks. The editing suite and the seminar rooms have special touch-screen user interfaces developed by inSynergie. Cameras in the practice rooms are controlled from the editing suite. They are selected individually or in groups and live or recorded video can be streamed to any of the seminar or lecture rooms where it can be displayed on monitors in split screen mode or via projectors.
Markers save time
A key feature of the system is that teaching staff insert markers into the recording during the exercises. This enables particular footage to be found and shown again quickly for analysis and feedback. The markers can also be tagged for research and teaching purposes and stored in the system's database.
Here video technology mitigates against crowded courses and teacher shortages. It saves time by making the learning process more effective by enabling the analysis of body language, which may be important to diagnosis, and providing an ideal tool for self-critical review and discussion.
The controlling editors can select individual cameras; insert title and screen text; display live preview pictures; start/stop video and audio; insert bookmarks for easy retrieval as well as deliver audio announcements. Recorded and live images can be streamed simultaneously to students in several locations. Replay functions offer local access to approved recordings with the facility to jump from marker to marker.
Straightforward adaptation
