Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Back before doctors knew about sterility issues during surgery, there were amphitheaters where people could watch a procedure. That obviously doesn't happen anymore, but with Mediasite, the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is creating digital amphitheaters that allow people to watch a surgery live or on-demand online. With these videos, they can be in the operating room without physically being there. 

The medical center is a teaching hospital associated with Penn State, and in a two year time frame over 800 Mediasite presentations have been archived. 

"Mediasite is actually becoming a generic word here. Instead of 'rich media recording' we say 'Mediasite it,' " said Russell Scaduto, director of educational technology at the medical center. "Mediasite has had the biggest impact on changing the way we do things." 

The technology is used for a number of applications from recording and archiving special lectures to teaching basic things on clinical floors, such as how a basic heart exam is done. 

"With the rapid pace that medicine is advancing and with the needs of physicians to stay in their practices, physicians now want their information delivered to them on-demand when they want it, when they can find a space minute, a spare hour, and Mediasite has really helped us begin to meet that demand for education," said Luanne Thorndyke, associate dean for professional development. 

Sonic Foundry recognizes the medical center for its achievement in implementing rich media to benefit health and wellness.