AV integration and innovation in a healthcare setting
Citadel Edge took on the role of leading the Audiovisual work package for the Victorian Heart Hospital (VHH), Australia’s first dedicated heart hospital.
Background of the project
In early 2021 Citadel Edge was awarded the Audiovisual work package by the Head Contractor, John Holland Group (JHG), for the construction of Australia’s state of the art new Heart Hospital. The project had multiple stakeholders – JHG the Head Contractor, DHHS the client, Monash Health & Monash University the occupants.
Our project spanned across a variety of spaces within the hospital, including educational areas, conference and meeting rooms, and clinical environments. We were entrusted with the design, coordination, and execution of end-to-end Audiovisual systems, accommodating diverse AV needs for each unique space.
Announced in late 2017, the Victorian Heart Hospital (VHH) is a $543 million-dollar investment in the future of Victorian health. Located on the Monash University Clayton campus, the VHH will be Australia’s first dedicated heart hospital and will feature 195 beds, an emergency department, specialist labs, and specialist surgical and telemedicine service.
Scope of work
Citadel Edge’s scope of work included a design & construct AV, based on a consultant functional specification from UT Consulting.
We validated all the concept designs and provisional bills of material for over 200 spaces. The scope of work included complex operating theatres, teaching and research spaces, meeting spaces and labs, as well as digital signage. Our remit was to document design detail, supply equipment, install and commission all the spaces, and to provide on-site support for the initial 12 months.
Project plan and execution
Citadel Edge’s work at VHH incorporated an array of cutting-edge technologies and techniques to ensure seamless operation and maximum benefit for the end user.
- Our AV-over-IP systems were integral to the solution, ensuring content from the operating theatres could be accessed anywhere in the hospital or around the world. Every input and output, every audio device, DSP, and amplifier was networked to enable this broad accessibility.
- We used Sony PTZ cameras for video capture, alongside specialized medical instruments. The audio capture was facilitated by Shure shotgun microphones, Audix ceiling-mounted gooseneck microphones, and Shure ULX-D belt packs and lavalier microphones. Community in-ceiling loudspeakers allowed two-way communication, while Biamp Tesira DSP worked behind the scenes to optimize intelligibility.
- The installed AV systems were designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, controllable via a Crestron touch panel in the operating theatres or from an AV control station behind a glass wall. We also ensured remote monitorability to enable technical support regardless of location.
This combination of technologies and techniques allowed us to deliver a holistic AV solution that has not only revolutionised VHH’s approach to medical procedures and education but also set a new standard in the integration of AV technologies in healthcare.
Pushing AV boundaries with revolutionary solutions
The Citadel Edge team brought an unprecedented level of technological sophistication that greatly benefits both the medical and educational staff.
Imagine this: A vital surgery needs to be broadcasted and recorded. The operating theatre is equipped with a full range of installed AV technology, negating the need for medical staff to intervene. Sony PTZ cameras, in conjunction with specialised medical instruments, capture video, while Shure and Audix microphones record the audio. Biamp Tesira DSP ensures optimal intelligibility, while Community in-ceiling loudspeakers facilitate two-way communication at the distant end of the call. The system is primarily self-sufficient, with an AV control station available for assistance if necessary.
Surgeons have full control via a large Crestron touch panel, enabling them to manage volume, system switching, and other functionalities. Elsewhere in the building, in a Monash University teaching space, the surgery footage can be displayed on Sony 98-inch displays, allowing for seamless integration of practical and theoretical learning. Lecturers use Shure ULX-D wireless technology and ClearOne DSP for two-way communication.
By integrating advanced AV technology, we have redefined VHH’s approach to medical procedures and education, creating an immersive, interconnected, and technologically advanced healthcare environment.
Amalgamation of technology and healthcare
Citadel Edge integrated several AV-over-IP systems, ensuring content from the operating theatres can be accessed anywhere in the hospital, or indeed, around the world. Every input and output, every audio device, DSP, and amplifier has been networked, from a traffic and control perspective, along with the multicast traffic for AV.
We ensured that the operating theatres are equipped to handle any potential AV requirement. Community two-way column speakers cater to any audio situation, and operators can control the system either from the operating theatre via a touch panel or externally through a glass wall.
This amalgamation of technology and healthcare underscores our innovative spirit, marking a significant leap in medical training and service delivery.
Result
Navigating the complexities of this project required seamless cooperation with multiple stakeholders, adjusting to post-Covid resource and supply chain challenges.
We were successful in not only aligning with the vision of primary occupants, Monash Health and Monash University, but also in surpassing their expectations, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in the Australian AV industry.
In the face of a global health crisis, VHH stands as a robust response. Leveraging AV-over-IP flexibility, we enabled the sharing of critical information, techniques, and procedures across the globe, unaffected by lockdowns.
The intuitive, remotely monitorable AV systems empower collaboration among medical researchers, innovators, clinicians, and future health professionals, contributing to the heart health of communities throughout Australia.
Our project also facilitates a hands-on learning environment for students. Through the usage of simulation suites and learning spaces equipped with state-of-the-art AV technology, students engage with real-world challenges, learning from the brightest researchers and clinical teams.
This project goes beyond mere technical excellence, as it contributes significantly to the training of future generations of medical professionals and the improvement of heart health in Australia. Citadel Edge’s involvement in this landmark project underscores our commitment to industry-leading standards and innovation.
