Patient experience is just as critical via video as it is face-to-face, so putting the time in to ensure a successful video consultation with patients is important.
You can’t hear properly, or you can’t see the person clearly you are on a video call with – we’ve all been there – but how do you ensure this doesn’t happen?
Here’s 5 top tips on how to create an optimal video environment:
1. Lighting The light source is best positioned behind the monitor, shining it against a wall or vertical surface behind the monitor, so the light is reflected towards the user. This Non-directional lighting prevents eye strain and fatigue, and means users can experience sustained viewing comfort for longer time periods. Not only does this provide the best screen-viewing experience, but as the light source is front-facing, it’s the best for illuminating the face during video calls, reducing shadows on the face.
2. Background
A plain background is always best to avoid any unnecessary distractions and ensure viewers can see you face clearly in the picture. A light or medium shade of grey is recommended for this background so the light isn’t reflected too much, making the user brighter in the video image, and providing better skin colour representation.
The Consult Plus pod designed for video calls has been optimised with fabrics that have the correct LRV values designed to ensure an equitable visual user representation. LRV, light reflectance value, is a measure of visible light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. The higher the LRV value, the more light the material reflects, so getting this value right is important to ensure the optimum amount of light for user representation. Find out more about this here.
3. Acoustics
It’s critical users can be heard at both ends of the video call. Firstly, its important to make sure there is as little background noise as possible as microphones can often pick this up and amplify it. Ensure the space is a quiet area where users won’t be disrupted. Places like open offices have a lot of background noise and distractions that create a bad video experience for both users. Ensure you can also hear the user well and understand clearly what is being said, adjusting the volume and consider using earbuds or a headset if audio isn’t clear.
A great solution to this is a modular acoustic booth that provides an acoustically protected environment, so any background noise is shut out.
4. Positioning
It’s always best to make the user on the other end of the call feel like you are looking at them. This can depend on what is being used for the video call, be it a built-in camera on a laptop or a portable web cam. Position the camera on the top of the screen if it’s separate to your PC or laptop. This means you are not looking up or down and the camera is not at any obscure angle, looking at you from either below or above. During the call look at the screen where you can see the patient, this will mean you are looking slightly below the camera but provides the best experience for both users.
This can be achieved through adjustable height desks and monitors so users can remain in a comfortable sitting or standing position during the call, as per the consult pod desk range.
5. Test
Once you’ve set up your optimal environment for virtual consultations, you’re almost ready to go! However, it’s important you test your set up before using it for the first time. We recommend you set up a video call with a colleague to test your video environment, checking the lighting, colour, acoustics, and positioning. Make any final adjustments and then you’re ready to conduct virtual consultations without needing to worry every time about your set up. Video calls suddenly become quick and easy to conduct, making them an efficient tool for everyday use.
These tips are also great in helping your patients when on virtual consultations to ensure they can be seen and heard the clearly. This is important in making the consultation successful for both patients and clinicians.
You can view the NHS England guides for video consulting here.
Any more questions? Get in touch to ask one of team help you set up your environment.
Did you know? You can demo the world’s first pod optimised for video at one of our showrooms, book in here.