Internet Based Teleconferencing – Will It Help Us? Senasi R, Roberts I, Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Internet Based Conferencing/WEBEX What …. does it consist of ? Why …. did we bother ? How …. did we do it ? Did it work ? Opportunities / strengths Threats / weaknesses

Why did we need an internet meeting ? There is currently no governance program or formal feedback process for paediatric radiology on-call Radiology SpRs are attached for 6 weeks in the 1 st year and 3 months in the 2 nd year FRCR teaching (to years 1, 2 & 3) is delivered on the other side of the city

And for SpRs…… No direct feedback process (and a separate PACS system, so it’s hard to check the formal reports if you aren’t working at the Childrens Hospital) No formal paediatric radiology teaching for non- specialists after FRCR On-call is delivered by years 2- 4 and Sheffield trainees (pre and post FRCR) can be scattered around S. Yorkshire (so travel would be a problem)

What did we do ? Set up monthly Webex meetings SpRs in FRCR teaching ( ) Clinical Tutor presented remotely (SCH for the 1 st session, at home for the 2 nd session)

What is Webex? Data sharing over the internet No need for software installation Any computer with broadband/ 56K connection PC, Mac and Linux Audio link by phone No voice lag (internet) Phone in to 0800 central service to join the tele-conference

Webex – what it looks like

What does it cost ? Setup Webcam - £20 Conference phone Time (to talk to IT, find equipment, connect phones…….) Set up the account (host pays all the bills) Data 11p per minute per participant (£6.50 per hour) Unlimited access / meetings for £30 per month (12 months) Audio 4p per minute per participant (£2.50 per hour)

What does it involve ? Host sets up a meeting and webex sends out an with a link to click Host logs in and waits for participants to join Host is notified of all participants (data and audio) SCH IT department made it a requirement that all remote recording was switched off

HOST Sheffield Childrens Hospital Speciality Registrars

XXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXX

What did we think? Good Registrars enjoyed it Positive feedback Helps jog memory Consultants able to be in 2 places at once Bad/Issues Initial teething problems with set up Telephone line and cables Lighting Projector Not as interactive as face-to- face For SpRS No more inter-site grocery shopping or McD for lunch

Opportunities / Strengths Fast and interactive No downloads (Active X) Accessible anywhere (home or work) Multiple users Cost effective (study leave budget goes further and no early trains)

HOST Local DGH Local Case Review / CPD network

HOST Tertiary centre Tertiary centre Tertiary centre Tertiary centre 5 th year / Fellow teaching network

Other possibilities Multi-centre research group Multi-centre audit meetings Radiographer / sonographer networks Modality networks (US, CT…….) Teaching meetings / management leads……..

Threats / weaknesses Loss of face-to-face contact and chat IT issues and the usual hiccoughs Loss of BSPR income Who wants to be in 2 places at once ?

FAQ What about formal Teleconferencing ? less flexible and higher set-up costs Why not use SKYPE or Facetime ? security approval for trust data noticeable time delay for audio What about security ? we had to use library images (no names)

The future Strengthen the BSPR Multi centre interaction Reduce the cost of teaching in a small speciality Reduce duplication Lectures stored locally (SCH) for later review More-accessible CPD and better distribution of high-quality material