Santa's Sleigh to Make Cyber-Stops via Cisco Technology at Thirty-One Children's Hospitals Across the Country

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - Dec 5, 2012) -

What:
Santa conducts video calls (via Jabber for iPad or Cisco TelePresence mobile carts) and in-person visits with young patients

When:
December 4-21, 2012

Participating U.S. Hospitals:

Atlanta, GA: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Austin, TX: Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, a member of the Seton Healthcare Family
Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Children's Center
Birmingham, AL: Children's of Alabama
Boston, MA: Boston Children's Hospital
Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital
Cincinnati, OH: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Dallas, TX: Children's Medical Center Dallas
Denver, CO: Children's Hospital Colorado
Detroit, MI: Children's Hospital of Michigan
Hackensack, NJ: Hackensack University Medical Center
Hershey, PA: Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital
Houston, TX: Texas Children's Hospital
Jackson, MS: Batson Children's Hospital at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
Miami, FL: Jackson Health System Holtz Children's Hospital
Miami, FL: Miami Children's Hospital
Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital
New Hyde Park, NY: Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York
New Orleans, LA: Ochsner Medical Center for Children
New York, NY: NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Orlando, FL: Nemours Children's Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Portland, OR: Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel
Springfield, MO: Mercy Children's Hospital
St. Louis, MO: Mercy Children's Hospital
Washington, D.C.: Children's National Medical Center

How:
Cisco Systems' annual "Santa Connection Program" enables hospitalized children to remotely connect and communicate with Santa using Cisco's video collaboration technologies.

Christmas and Santa Claus go hand-in-hand for many children around the world. But often those who are hospitalized during the holidays don't have the opportunity to tell Santa in-person what tops their wish list. Fortunately, that will change for many children this year as Santa Claus has found a way to visit children's hospitals across the U.S., without leaving the "North Pole!" In addition, Santa will be visiting hospitals in the UK and Ireland to speak to children personally about what's on their Christmas lists. Children will experience the magic of the season as Santa makes an important cyber-stop, thanks to the magic of the latest mobile and collaboration technologies.

These hospitals have joined with Cisco Systems to bring Santa to their patients -- using either an iPad, or a video monitor and web-enabled camera. Santa will visit with children in the hospital's playroom, and for those who don't feel well enough to leave their rooms; a mobile cart or iPad enabled with Cisco Jabber software will help Santa travel room-to-room for a bedside visit.

Much like children who are able to sit on Santa's lap, patients will have the opportunity to pass along their wishes this holiday season in plenty of time for St. Nick to make his list and check it twice!

About Cisco Systems Santa Connection
During the 2012 holiday season, more than 30 hospitals throughout the US will participate in the Cisco Santa Connection Program. This interactive experience enables hospitalized children to remotely connect and communicate with Santa using Cisco's video collaboration technologies. Through the magic of the Internet, the children are connected over video directly to Santa's workshop in the "North Pole" where they can share their wish lists directly with Old St. Nick. After a personal conversation with Santa, children can join their families and enjoy a holiday party complete with gifts at the hospital. The Santa Connection Program was developed five years ago to provide children and their families a bit of holiday cheer and happiness during their hospital stay. For more information, please contact Emily May at emily.may@text100.com or 415-593-8437.

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