Redefining MDT Meetings for Better Patient Outcomes.
April 16th, 2025
AV technology might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about innovation in healthcare. Yet it plays a vital role in everything from patient communication to supporting disease diagnosis. Nowhere is this more apparent than in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, where collaboration and speed are essential.
MDT meetings bring together specialists from across departments, sometimes even Trusts, to develop treatment plans for complex cases like cancer, stroke, or trauma. These meetings are crucial for discussing complex patient cases and AV plays a key role in making them run smoothly.
AV can elevate these sessions by enabling clinicians to share content from multiple sources such as radiology images and detailed case notes at the same time. To do this effectively, MDT rooms need two codecs, one for the call and primary content sharing, and another for secondary content like PACS images. It sounds technical, but in practice, it means no interruption to the flow of information and no risk of overlooking something critical.
Modernising the NHS meeting experience
Many NHS Trusts face the challenge of modernising ageing video conferencing systems, some more than a decade old. As the NHS continues to standardise on Microsoft Teams, there’s a growing shift toward Microsoft Teams Rooms. This isn’t just about upgrading and refreshing technology, it’s about transforming the user experience. When it comes to AV in healthcare settings, three priorities consistently emerge – reliability, ease of use, and high-quality visuals. Here’s why:
Reliability first
It’s no secret that NHS IT teams are stretched. In many Trusts, stretched IT teams are responsible for multiple sites, leaving little room for troubleshooting. In these environments, AV systems need to be dependable. This means working with trusted manufacturers and partnering with integrators who provide preventative maintenance and dedicated support when issues arise.
Warranty and replacement support are critical too. A faulty screen shouldn’t lead to a cancelled meeting or delay decision-making. Purchasing from manufacturers that offer next-day replacements reduces pressure on IT teams and prevents disruption to care.
Simplicity saves time
In a clinical setting, time really is everything. AV systems must be intuitive enough for anyone to walk into a room, press one button, and get started. That’s particularly true for MDTs, where decisions can’t wait for someone from IT to troubleshoot a login issue.
Features like one-touch join, self-help options, and consistent interfaces across rooms make a huge difference. In many hospitals, rooms are shared between departments. So, pharmacy one day, a leadership meeting the next. The AV has to work for everyone, regardless of their technical background.
High-quality displays matter
Clear visuals are non-negotiable in MDT settings. The ability to view high-resolution, DICOM-compliant images is essential for both in-room and remote participants. However, not all UC platforms offer consistent image quality. Testing multiple solutions before implementation is key to ensuring accuracy and diagnostic confidence. For example, systems optimised for widescreen (16:9) may distort portrait-orientated X-rays, making it difficult to identify subtle clinical details. The right display technology can mean the difference between an early diagnosis and a missed opportunity.
Tailoring AV for every clinical collaboration team
No two MDTs are the same. A cancer care team might meet daily to review urgent cases, while another department might have monthly planning sessions. That’s why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all approach. The key is simplicity and providing users with intuitive controls, on-demand support through user guides, and training tailored to each team’s workflow. The tech should feel so easy to use, that it just fades into the background, letting the clinical teams do what they do best.
The biggest barrier we still see is fragmentation. One site uses Cisco, another uses Poly, and someone’s still clinging to Skype for Business. It makes collaboration harder than it needs to be. This kind of disjointed setup often comes from siloed decision-making, departments installing what they think is best, without a shared strategy. There’s progress, though. Interoperable devices, like Cisco’s support for Microsoft Teams Rooms, are helping bridge the gap.
Putting patients first
At the end of the day, everything comes back to patient care. Whether it’s a consultant reviewing scans with a colleague 100 miles away or support staff needing AV that doesn’t break down mid-meeting, the goal is the same. Better outcomes, fewer delays, and less stress.
AV technology may not be the most visible part of healthcare innovation but when it works well, it empowers clinicians, supports teams, and, most importantly, helps patients receive timely, high-quality care.
Helping you enhance collaboration in every clinical setting
If your organisation is looking to modernise MDT spaces, improve collaboration across sites, or create more reliable meeting experiences, Cinos is perfectly placed to help. With extensive experience designing, integrating, and supporting AV systems across the NHS, we deliver technology that clinicians can depend on. From MDT rooms and hybrid meeting spaces to Trust-wide AV infrastructure, our expertise ensures systems that are intuitive, dependable, and built around clinical workflows — enabling healthcare teams to focus on what matters most: patient care. Get in touch to discuss your requirements today.
