The UK’s leading mental healthcare charity, St. Andrew’s Healthcare, is using a browser-based solution from integrator AVM to provide a straight-forward video conferencing service which is secure and cost-effective. (See here)
All anyone needs to take part is a PC with an internet connection and a web camera, along with password and meeting identification number provided by St Andrew’s.
“Using AVM’s desktop solution we can help doctors or family members keep in touch,” said Ben Meade, Head of IT & Deputy IT Director at St Andrew’s. “We were originally asked if we could make available one of the free internet services that offer voice and video calls and chats. We checked what was available and realised there was great potential for the Charity, but that the public services would not meet our needs for confidentiality and security.”
The AVM solution is a fully managed video service, meaning that no new hardware, software or bandwidth was needed, because the whole service is provided over AVM’s dedicated network.
“This solution allows all types of connection and equipment, so it was easy to introduce,” continued Meade. “It’s available around the clock and to any location. Because of the security built in to the system, we can use it for virtual meetings between staff. We can also provide a confidential and convenient environment at any of our sites for our users to keep in touch with their friends, family and care team. No other provider of secure mental healthcare services currently offers anything similar.”
“It was easy to set up a trial of the system and we soon realised that it would be valuable to improve collaboration between out multi-disciplinary teams, and save travelling costs,” he went on. “We have also been able to provide a truly international service to our customers, linking up a user in Northampton with one of his care team who was away in India and family members in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. We realised that it also offered real benefits to people using our services for deaf people, because they can still benefit from seeing a British Sign Language interpreter.”
