Global technology company Crestron is teaming teamed up with Orbis International, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, to embark on a mission to fight blindness in developing countries. Kicking off the campaign, Crestron technology has been embedded into the new Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, an MD-10 aircraft unveiled June 2 at LAX in Los Angeles with stops planned in Sacramento, Memphis, Newark, Washington, DC, and Dallas-Fort Worth over the next month.
The Flying Eye Hospital will travel to underserved areas to treat patients at risk of losing their sight, while also offering local doctors the chance to be trained from the plane. The mobile teaching hospital features an onboard ophthalmic training center, which hosts a 46-seat classroom, full surgical suite, operating theater, laser treatment room, communications center, recovery room, and audiovisual/IT room.
ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital audio-visual room.
As an Orbis partner, Crestron has provided more than $300,000 in A/V and automation technology, in addition to integration services, to enable the medical staff to operate on their patients, while allowing other local doctors to observe procedures from the classroom.
Crestron touch screens located throughout the aircraft create a fully integrated atmosphere, including audio and visual distribution systems, multimedia processors, cameras and monitors. All of the inputs and monitor outputs are connected using Crestron technology allowing for any camera picture to be routed to any display. This provides flexibility in the communication from room to room abard the aircraft. In addition, a multi-room audio system and Crestron speakers provide audio throughout the plane. From switchers to video systems, everything can be seamlessly controlled through a single, touch screen.
“It is estimated that up to 80 percent of blindness is preventable and 90 percent of those who are affected live in developing countries where they can’t get the treatment they need,” said Bob Ranck, president & CEO of Orbis, adding that the model is to train local doctors, nurses and medical technicians to manage blindness in their own communities after the flying fospital has departed.
