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Video in SLP Clinics
After trying two video systems with less-than satisfying results in the past, The Stroke Center at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Dallas, Texas installed a VALT video solution to observe and train its graduate-level speech pathology students working with stroke victims. In addition to easy installation and administration, the VALT solution solved a serious, recurring issue that had significantly hampered past training efforts.
Frustration with previous alternatives.
When TWU moved into their current building in 2010, they wanted a better solution than the VCRs and cameras that had been used at their previous facility. But finding the right digital solution proved difficult because most DVR-type alternatives available at the time had been developed for building security applications, not speech pathology training.
According to clinical supervisor Alisa Woods,“We’ve had issues in the past with the patient’s audio not synching with the image. That’s important for a speech pathologist.” More than a nuisance, this serious technical glitch forced trainers to sit in the same room as a clinician and patient throughout a session, creating a less-than ideal learning environment for students who often felt nervous and hesitant to interact freely with patients.
An HD solution with precise audio and video match.
With the VALT all-digital solution, trainers at TWU’s Stroke Center are finding it much easier to observe live sessions remotely from start to finish. From their offices, trainers can now watch what’s going on in any of the 13 rooms being monitored and see everything in real time. They never have to enter the room unless a clinician needs direct guidance. According to Alisa Woods, this has proven to be a far superior option than having a trainer sit with the clinician throughout an entire session.
From installation to interface, the preferred option.
The consensus opinion about TWU’s decision to choose VALT has been overwhelmingly positive, especially among those who work most closely
with it. Since VALT used the facility’s existing infrastructure, the installation was seamless without any need for extra wires or additional cameras. The all-digital solution is also housed on a single server so it’s easy to access securely from a single entry point or multiple entry points throughout campus. Regarding the interface itself, Jared Vernon, technology manager at TWU, commented: “It’s ease of use lowers overall operating costs because a non-tech support person can work schedules and do other administrative work without tech assistance.”
Zooming in on other VALT features.
From the simplicity of logging in to the ease with which administrators can pull recorded sessions, VALT navigation has proven very user-friendly.
To watch past sessions, the administrator simply enters appropriate dates and a patient’s name to see an entire session or just the part that needs to be reviewed with the student.
When doing speech pathology work, it’s also important at times to see what patients are writing as well as what they’re saying. With the zoom function on the VALT solution, TWU trainers have found it easy to do this remotely as well.
From speech pathology to nursing.
At Texas Woman’s University, the VALT system is currently used exclusively for speech pathology training. However, after noting the seamless installation, easy implementation and low operating costs, the university plans to expand the use of VALT to their nursing facility as well. The installation will begin with initial testing in a mock simulation exam area to determine optimal placement of the two cameras. With that proof of concept, the project will roll out to the larger system.
According to Jared Vernon, “VALT is working so effectively and lowering overall operating costs so well in The Stroke Center, it made sense to expand its use to the nursing facility. I have no reservations about recommending VALT to anyone.”
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