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| Vol. 23, No. 16 |
| September 1, 2001 |
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New Texas Heart Institute Pledges "Intelligent Building" By KATHY WATSON Texas Heart Institute When the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital unveils the new Denton A. Cooley Building next January, the Texas Medical Center will have access to a new standard in telemedicine technology, as well as the largest auditorium in the TMC.
"It's truly an intelligent building," says John Putnam, the Texas Heart Institute's project manager for the Denton A. Cooley Building. "The entire building is wired for live transmission as well as reception."
Putnam explains the facility has the capabilities for live audio and visual transmission of an operating room procedure or a presentation in the 500-seat Cooley Auditorium, which can be sent to any room in the building or externally. The building is wired with category-five cable as well as fiberoptics.
"For example, Dr. Cooley can be sitting at his office desk, and simply punch up the auditorium or the OR on his computer, and see what's happening on his computer monitor. Because of the switching mechanism wired into the system, he can even see split screens with the capacity to observe as many as four procedures at once," says Putnam.
The biocommunications department of the Institute will have comprehensive production and transmission capabilities. Satellite connections on the exterior of the building will enable the Institute to send signals to a satellite for live broadcast or Internet transmission.
"It's really incredible when you consider the advantages for education and patient care," says Putnam.
A telemedicine center in the new building will permit news discoveries and knowledge to be shared worldwide, and enable Texas Heart Institute physicians to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of patients in rural areas. The conference center will enhance educational programs and promote collaboration among physicians throughout the TMC while avoiding the expense of using outside facilities.
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/09_01_01/page_23.html |