Our Client
Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) offers a robust health and medical program designed to provide students with real-world experience in a safe, controlled environment. A key component of this program is the use of Simulation Bays, or “SimBays,” which are mock hospital rooms equipped with lifelike “dummy” patients. These high-tech practice areas allow students to develop and refine their clinical skills through hands-on training, giving them valuable exposure to realistic healthcare scenarios before they enter actual medical settings.
Project Overview
The AV installation in the SimBays was a critical element in transforming the mock hospital rooms into dynamic, interactive learning environments. Pro AV Systems was entrusted with the design and execution of this new setup, with the goal of creating a system that would allow seamless observation, communication, and assessment between instructors in the Control Room and students in the SimBays.
Our Solution
To ensure high-quality audio coverage, Pro AV Systems installed a combination of Biamp and JBL components. Biamp’s DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology plays a key role in managing and routing audio between rooms, enabling real-time voice communication and clean audio capture for recordings and evaluations. JBL speakers were strategically positioned in both the SimBays and the Control Room to provide crisp, intelligible sound, ensuring that instructions, feedback, and simulated patient responses are clearly heard without distortion or lag.
For video capture and monitoring, Marshall cameras were selected due to their compact design, flexible mounting options, and high-definition video quality. These cameras are installed at various angles in each SimBay, allowing for comprehensive coverage of the simulation environment. Their low-profile design ensures they don’t interfere with the realism of the training space, while still delivering clear footage that can be reviewed in real time or stored for later analysis.
At the heart of the Control Room lies a Blackmagic Design video switcher, which allows the instructors to manage multiple video feeds effortlessly. With the switcher, educators can toggle between different camera angles, zoom in on specific actions, or create split-screen views for a broader perspective. This flexibility is crucial for effective instruction and evaluation, as it allows staff to observe fine motor skills, teamwork, and procedural accuracy in detail.
Results
The result of this AV installation is a highly responsive, professional-grade simulation system that mirrors real clinical settings and supports both immediate feedback and in-depth post-simulation debriefing. The thoughtful integration of Biamp, JBL, Marshall, and Blackmagic technologies ensures that SMCC’s health and medical students are equipped with the best possible tools to learn, grow, and excel in their future healthcare careers.
