Olympus KeyMed
Medical
Content Creation / Hybrid Event
2021
In the rapidly evolving world of medical education, finding new and effective ways to connect professionals with real-time learning opportunities has become increasingly important. In 2021, Olympus KeyMed took a significant step forward by hosting a groundbreaking ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) Masterclass at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds.
To deliver this complex educational experience, Olympus partnered with Stream7 to produce a high-quality hybrid event. The masterclass featured a live-streamed surgical procedure, interactive Q&A, and remote viewing capabilities – all designed to help medical professionals gain insight into advanced endoscopic techniques, without physically entering the operating room.
This case study explores how Stream7 delivered the technical infrastructure, live streaming, and real-time broadcasting solutions that turned this highly specialised medical event into a powerful hybrid learning experience.
The ERCP Masterclass had one clear aim – to offer medical professionals an immersive opportunity to observe a live procedure while engaging in discussion and learning with peers. However, this wasn’t a conventional conference or webinar.
Olympus and the clinical team at St James’s wanted something far more ambitious: a true hybrid experience. This meant:
Streaming a live surgical procedure from an operating suite located seven floors above the conference room.
Enabling crystal-clear audio and high-definition visuals of the procedure, including direct feeds from the endoscope and fluoroscopy machines.
Creating a two-way communication link so that consultants performing the procedure could respond to questions from delegates in real time.
Providing on-demand content for later review and extended learning opportunities.
To deliver this within a busy hospital environment – without disrupting operations or requiring invasive infrastructure changes – would require both creativity and technical precision.
Stream7 began the project by conducting a full site visit and technical review at St James’s University Hospital. The team needed to ensure that their streaming solution would be both reliable and non-disruptive to the clinical setting.
Based on these assessments, the Stream7 team proposed a fully networked production workflow using NewTek’s NDI (Network Device Interface) protocol. This technology allowed video, audio, and control signals to be transferred over the hospital’s existing gigabit Ethernet network.
This was a major advantage, as it avoided the need to run additional cabling through seven floors of the hospital, reducing time, risk, and physical intrusion into the clinical environment.
Inside the endoscopy suite, Stream7 installed a NewTek TriCaster 460 production switcher. This served as the central hub for capturing and mixing multiple video sources, including:
A live camera feed capturing the surgical team’s actions.
A direct video output from the endoscopic camera.
A fluoroscopy image feed for real-time X-ray visualisation.
Audio from the consultant performing the procedure was captured using a discreet wireless lapel microphone, ensuring clarity without disrupting the clinical workflow. All of these feeds were then encoded and transmitted in real time via the NDI protocol.
Downstairs in the hospital’s lecture theatre, another TriCaster unit received the NDI streams. The mixed video feed was projected in high definition onto a large display screen, providing an immersive experience for the seated delegates.
This wasn’t a passive viewing session. Two-way audio links allowed attendees to ask questions, which were relayed back to the consultant in the endoscopy suite. The result was a live, interactive conversation between the operator and audience, all while a complex surgical procedure was underway.
This format helped recreate the immediacy and responsiveness of being in the same room, without compromising on safety, sterility, or hospital operations.
The hybrid format didn’t stop at linking two rooms in the same building. The event was also broadcast to remote participants online via a secure webcast interface, allowing consultants, trainees, and healthcare professionals from other hospitals to watch the procedure live and join in via online Q&A.
Stream7 ensured that all viewers – whether in the room or watching remotely – had access to:
Uninterrupted high-definition video and clear audio.
Branded overlays showing the speaker’s name, presentation title, and key information.
Access to real-time questions, managed through a digital moderation system.
A recording of the full session for on-demand replay.
This approach met the hybrid event brief in full – combining in-person and virtual attendance, and creating long-lasting educational resources through professional content creation.
Delivering surgery streaming in a live, functioning hospital comes with its own set of complexities. A few of the key challenges – and how Stream7 addressed them – include:
Challenge 1: Minimising disruption to hospital operations - Hospitals are high-pressure environments, and any additional equipment or cabling must be deployed with care. Stream7 used the hospital’s existing IT infrastructure and coordinated with clinical teams to ensure all gear was positioned safely and discreetly.
Challenge 2: Maintaining stream quality across multiple floors - Transmitting high-bandwidth video signals across several storeys of a hospital required reliable encoding and network performance. The NDI protocol enabled real-time HD video streaming over IP with minimal latency, and backup systems were in place to guard against connectivity drops.
Challenge 3: Managing audience interaction - The educational value of the event depended heavily on live dialogue between attendees and the surgical team. Stream7’s multi-channel audio setup allowed seamless communication between the two locations, while a moderator facilitated questions from both in-room and remote viewers.
While the live experience was the main focus, content longevity was also a key goal. Stream7 recorded the full production, including all video feeds and audio commentary, to produce an on-demand package for post-event learning.
The recording was edited, chaptered, and branded with introductory slides, ensuring that viewers accessing the session after the event could easily navigate and revisit specific segments. This content was made available via Olympus KeyMed’s secure content platform and continues to be used in ongoing professional development.
Additionally, shorter highlight clips and teaser videos were produced for internal use and future event promotion.
The ERCP Masterclass received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, organisers, and consultants. The event showcased the power of live medical streaming to elevate professional learning, foster collaboration, and extend access to knowledge across geographic and institutional boundaries.
Delegates appreciated the ability to watch complex surgical techniques in real time and engage directly with the operators. Meanwhile, Olympus highlighted the quality and professionalism of the broadcast, which aligned with their commitment to innovation in medical education.
Importantly, the event demonstrated that hybrid medical events can be delivered safely and effectively within a live hospital environment, using existing infrastructure and minimal disruption.
This project has become a benchmark for future live-streamed medical events. By combining professional filming, real-time interactivity, and on-demand video content, Olympus and Stream7 showed what’s possible when healthcare and digital media come together with purpose and precision.
Whether it’s an operating theatre, lecture hall, or remote webinar, Stream7’s expertise in hybrid event production means healthcare providers can focus on delivering their message – while we take care of the technology that brings it to life.
Stream7 specialises in medical events, surgery streaming, and hybrid event production for healthcare providers, universities, medical device companies and professional bodies. Our services include:
Live surgery streaming
Hybrid medical conference production
Secure webcasts and remote access
Multi-camera filming and recording
Real-time Q&A and interactivity
Post-event editing and on-demand content creation
We work across the UK and internationally to support the medical sector with professional, reliable, and engaging digital event delivery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your next medical live stream or hybrid event.
