Leicester Royal Infirmary – Robert Kilpatrick Building Clinical Skills Unit

Requirements

The unit had a requirement to update and upgrade their existing camera and recording facilities in the department.

The main requirements for the system were as follows:

• Implement an easy to use system to allow the recording of the various simulation scenarios that take place in the ward areas
• Integration with the manikin simulators that are used, so that the vital signs feed can be recorded alongside the camera feeds
• The two main seminar rooms required the ability to view live, or playback recordings from any camera
• A portable recording solution was also required to expand the camera facilities as and when required

The Solution

An IP based camera system was specified and installed around the unit. Installation time and disruption was minimised, as prior to the main installation network points where provided for any camera, vital signs connection point, or cSkills Streamer (for live viewing and playback). The PoE cameras are powered via the network point (and PoE switch at the main equipment rack) so there was minimal need for additional main power to be installed.

The system provided recording capabilities in the following areas:

• Ward 4 – 2 x PTZ cameras in the corners of the room to provide full coverage, with the audio captured via dedicated ceiling microphones. A vital signs interface box provides the means to capture the feed generated by the manikin simulator at various points in the ward when required
• Ward 3 – 1 x PTZ camera with the audio captured via dedicated ceiling microphones. A vital signs interface box again provided
• Nurses Station – 1 x PTZ camera with associated ceiling microphones, provides the ability to capture footage around the nurse’s station and corridor area. The feed from the telephone at the nurse’s station is also captured to provide clear audio of any conversations that take place
• Portable System – A number of points where provided in some additional areas where the 2 camera portable system can be connected to and made available live and to record as part of the main fixed system

The system is operated from the control room, via the cSkills control laptop. Here the operator can invoke recordings in any area, move and operate the cameras, and monitor each camera on the laptop or the large wall mounted LED display.

An 80” and 65” LED Display were fitted in the seminar rooms, with a local cSkills streamer connected to both. The streamers connect to the main system, and via the cSkills streaming software the local user in each seminar room can call up the desired room\camera or group of cameras to view and listen in to a live scenario. The streamers also link to the main storage server, so as soon as a scenario is finished it can be played back for de-briefing.

Summary

The system in place now provides a flexible and easy way to record, view live, and playback to aid in simulation. Various camera groups (up to 4 cameras or streams) where set up initially, so for example, a scenario in ward 3 allows a view of 2 PTZ cameras in the ward, a vital signs feed, and a view of the PTZ at the nurses station. The streams can be viewed simultaneously as a quad split, or on their own full screen.

With an IP system like this, changing or adding to the streams that are available within a group is a straightforward process. This provides a great degree of future proofing and flexibility allowing the system to adapt and change as the needs of the clinical skills unit evolve.