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NHS Lothian Expands Use of Polycom RealPresence Video Collaboration Solutions across South East Scotland to Improve Patient Health Care & Reduce Costs
Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
London - Feb 14, 2012 : Polycom Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the global leader in standards-based unified communications (UC), is helping NHS Lothian to improve health services internally and with other health boards across South East Scotland. Over the last 18 months, NHS Lothian and Polycom have created a highly collaborative working environment built around Polycom HD video solutions. Using video to conference face-to-face over long distances, rather than having to be there in-person, benefits staff with improved efficiency, benefits patients with greater convenience, and benefits the health board as a whole with substantial cost savings.
 
To date, Lothian has deployed seven Polycom® RealPresence™ Immersive Solutions and 10 Polycom Practitioner carts in areas such as neonatal care, stroke consultations, and healthcare support in prisons. These solutions have already helped NHS Lothian make significant savings in operational costs – for example, running one particular meeting via videoconferencing solutions saved £1,600 (~US$2,500) in travel expenses alone.
 
NHS Lothian is responsible for patients in a geographically dispersed area, providing care for people living in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Mid Lothian, and West Lothian and providing a range of regional and national services which cover patients across Scotland. In particular, the health board works closely with NHS Fife, NHS Borders, and NHS Dumfries and Galloway. The health board has around 27,000 staff, 200 sites, and three A&E (accident and emergency) departments, making it the second largest in Scotland.
 
The health board had previously used videoconferencing for internal meetings typically in conference rooms, but staff felt the technology could be used in a more collaborative and flexible way for consultants and the treatment of patients. NHS Lothian chose Polycom because of the superior quality of Polycom video.
 
Iain Robertson, head of IT infrastructure and operations at NHS Lothian, said: “We have a number of partnerships with technology organizations, and it is important that these are two-way relationships. Not only does Polycom have the right technical solutions, it has an incredibly experienced healthcare team offering a complete service solution.
 
“We made the right decision in choosing Polycom, and the results speak for themselves. We have kept all of our original meeting rooms and we now have the ability to connect to remote teams. We are more connected than ever, with the ability to use voice, video, unified communications, and telepresence all in one call,” said Robertson.
 
“NHS Lothian is realizing the full benefits of truly unified communications built around HD video collaboration,” said Andrew Graley, director of healthcare, Polycom EMEA. “Residents in Lothian and across the South East of Scotland can now communicate with healthcare professionals like never before – encouraging a self-service approach to health. Together with the cost and environmental savings from video collaboration, NHS Lothian is on to a winning formula.”
 
NHS Lothian is using the videoconferencing systems for a number of different activities including:
  • Hosting case meetings in the Regional Cancer Centre and connecting geographically dispersed clinicians working remotely to help them feel engaged and share information. Patients are also invited to speak to experts in Edinburgh in cases where travel is not possible.
  • Providing more access to ground-breaking medical centers like the Clinical Sleep Services Center in Edinburgh. Patients can go to the center for an initial visit and then connect with medical staff via videoconferencing for follow-up sessions.
  • Running physiotherapy classes across Lothian, so patients don’t have to travel to Edinburgh for a class but can connect with experts via video.
  • Improving communication and collaboration between the NHS Lothian executive team and other local authorities to help share best practice and expertise.
  • Providing training and support for staff to help transfer expert knowledge across Lothian.
 
Notes to Editors
** Polycom® RealPresence™ Experience (RPX™) Series
A fully immersive solution, the Polycom RPX™ series delivers the ultimate meeting experience, with an all-inclusive meeting environment that brings HD video, audio, and content-sharing to a cinematic video wall. The technology is cutting-edge and so simple to use, it allows you to focus purely on the visual quality of face-to-face conversations that are as lifelike and natural as if you were in the same room.
 
**Polycom® Practitioner Cart™ HDX® Unit
Polycom Practitioner Cart mobile healthcare solutions transform a roomful of technology into a simple, mobile workstation to bring high-definition video, audio, and image-sharing to medical professionals and patients no matter where they are located.
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Douglas Fearing- Co-Founder / President

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.

Lois Fearing- Co-Founder/Accounting, Human Resources

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 Tresner-VP of Technology and Innovation

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.

Ben Voeck-Director of Commercial AV

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 Matson-Senior VP of Sales

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.