WIRELESS headset technology designed for high-intensity clinical environments is being used to support electrophysiology teams at Barts Health NHS Trust as it continues to explore technologies that improve coordination and focus during complex cardiac procedures.
The Pro11 system, developed by UK-based communications technology manufacturer Quail Digital, has been introduced in EP laboratories within the Trust’s cardiac services, where clinicians say background noise and competing conversations can make real-time communication ‘difficult during intricate operations and treatments’.
Electrophysiology and catheter laboratories are often busy environments, with physicians, nurses and technicians working across multiple workstations while imaging screens, monitoring equipment and alarms generate a constant level of background activity.
In such settings, clear communication between clinicians is ‘essential for maintaining procedural flow and avoiding misunderstandings’ according to Dr Mark Earley, consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Barts Health NHS Trust. He also said the system had addressed a challenge familiar to many cath lab teams including those at the hospital in Whitechapel, London.
Dr Earley said: “EP procedures require close coordination between multiple members of the clinical team, including physicians, physiologists, radiographers and nursing staff, often working simultaneously across different parts of the laboratory.
“Clear communication is particularly important during complex ablation procedures, where rapid instruction and feedback between operators and supporting staff can influence both efficiency and safety.
“Cath labs are very distracting - lots of noise, lots of people, different conversations happening all at once. By having a headset on, I can talk directly to the people I need to talk to without raising my voice. They hear me clearly, they understand what I’m asking, and it definitely creates a calmer environment in the lab.”
The headset technology also allows team members to communicate directly without needing to raise their voices above background noise or repeat instructions. This can help reduce misinterpretation of requests and allow clinicians to remain focused on the procedural task.”
The Pro11 system is also being used to support training within the Trust’s cardiac services. As one of the UK’s largest specialist cardiac centres, Barts Health NHS Trust regularly hosts registrars, fellows and medical students observing procedures as part of their clinical development.
“Providing headsets to observers allows trainees to listen in to live discussions between clinicians and, when appropriate, ask questions without interrupting the procedural workflow,” said Mr Earley.
“Clinicians involved in training say this can improve the educational experience for trainees while maintaining procedural focus within the lab. The technology itself is designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive, allowing clinicians to wear the devices for extended periods during clinical sessions.”
Developers at Quail Digital say the system was originally designed for fast-paced operational environments where real-time communication between teams working across separate locations is critical.
Tom Downes, CEO of Quail Digital, said: “In clinical settings such as EP and catheter laboratories, the Pro11 has proven at Barts Health to have improved collaboration between clinicians working across complex procedures and equipment layouts.
“While the technology does not alter the clinical procedure itself, it has proved communication can contribute to a more controlled working environment. By enabling direct, hands-free dialogue between team members, the system supports procedural focus and coordination in settings where precision and timing are critical.
“As cardiac centres continue to manage increasing procedural volumes and training responsibilities, hospitals are increasingly assessing how communication technologies can support multidisciplinary teams working in high-intensity clinical environments.”
