Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s medical school, is home to one of the largest health care complexes in the state with more than 30,000 students and staff. It has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since its opening in 1850. Michigan Medicine continues to make a difference in the field through its premier patient care and cutting-edge research.
THE CHALLENGE:
At the beginning of COVID-19, the hospital administration team worked around the clock from their Emergency Command Center to go over daily touchpoints such as patient counts and hospital logistics. Robert Levitt, Manager, Audio & Video Services, and Kyle Matthews, Senior Audio-Visual Project Engineer at Michigan Medicine, were charged with implementing a technology solution that would allow pertinent information to be shared and analyzed among several teams during those critical first months.
THE SOLUTION:
To address these new challenges, the Michigan Medicine AV team needed to expand their existing Crestron DigitalMedia™ platform with the capability to add more sources. This would equip hospital administration to bring in local and regional news coverage, as well as share content from custom dashboards used to make important operational decisions.
Michigan Medicine classrooms also leverage Crestron technology beyond their command centers with Crestron UC Smart Soundbars in small group learning rooms and Crestron DM NVX® AV-over-IP distribution in large lecture halls. “Our end users often have multiple appointments across campus and work between several of the different colleges,” explains Levitt. “We provide them with a single user experience on our Crestron touch screens that takes the guesswork away and allows them to concentrate on what they are doing.”
The Michigan Medicine AV team’s newest room design focuses on combinable spaces that utilize DM NVX for AV-over-IP distribution, an AirMedia® presentation system for content sharing, and a Crestron control system as the brains of the room. Whether the spaces are being combined for one large event or divided up for smaller groups, managing the custom setup and technology is simplified with the Crestron touch screen.
RESULTS:
Crestron has provided reliable solutions that are used across the university for both emergency medical response amid the global pandemic as well as day-to-day learning in classrooms. “We have used Crestron for a number of our initiatives across campus,” explains Levitt. “Crestron solutions, training, and support allow us to standardize the experience for our team and internal clients.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
