A simpler way to manage clinical assessments
The challenge
The General Medical Council (GMC) needed an AV system for its Clinical Assessment Centre at Hardman Street in Manchester. The centre includes 18 assessment rooms, with staff needing to observe assessments, communicate with the rooms and review recordings where required.
The GMC had an older solution in its previous building. For the new centre, it wanted to make assessments easier to manage and the technology simpler for staff to use. The system also needed to support several people monitoring different rooms at the same time, while operating on the GMC’s network.
This was a specialist requirement that could not be met by a standard meeting room installation. Alongside the assessment system, the building also needed straightforward Microsoft Teams Rooms for everyday collaboration.
Our solution
tdc designed, supplied and configured a system built around the GMC’s assessment process. Each of the 18 assessment rooms was equipped with two cameras to provide different views, together with a ceiling microphone and speakers for clear audio capture and communication.
Six viewing stations give staff access to the assessment rooms. Each station includes displays, headphones, a microphone and an Extron touchscreen. We developed a custom control interface so users can select and monitor the rooms they need without having to manage the underlying AV equipment.
Extron video distribution and audio processing connect the rooms and viewing stations, allowing assessment feeds to be routed across the centre. A Genetec video management and recording system supports the review of captured footage. We also provided Poly Microsoft Teams Rooms systems for the building’s standard meeting spaces.
The outcome
The new system has made a significant difference to how the GMC runs assessments. Staff can access room feeds and manage the functions they need through a clear, purpose-built interface, making the process easier than with the previous building’s solution.
The combination of multiple camera views, clear audio and centralised monitoring gives staff the tools to observe and review assessments effectively. Behind the simple user experience is a system designed for a busy centre where reliability and serviceability matter.
By tailoring the technology to the GMC’s working practices, tdc delivered a solution that supports both its specialist assessment work and day-to-day meetings.