How Video Can Inspire Hope

[Ron Emerson (RonHealthcare)]

I’m fortunate that my job can inspire moments that go beyond a satisfying work day. It takes me all around the world, meeting with urban physicians, hospital IT staff, rural doctors, nurses and occasionally the patients we impact.  It’s exciting to think about how we enable these groups to do their jobs effectively and is immensely satisfying to see the results our technology enables.
 
You’ve all heard of Polycom’s strong partnership with Microsoft – most recently at Enterprise Connect.  But perhaps what you haven’t heard is how we’re working together to use technology in a vital way.  We’re changing lives. And most importantly, it’s improving the lives of children. Operation Smile isn’t just a great fundraising campaign, it’s a mission and one I’m very passionate about. It has been our mission at Polycom to help anyway we can – from donating our video solutions to raising money to fund surgeries to correct cleft palate and other facial deformities. In January at TEAM Polycom, our company made a commitment to Operation Smile by holding a casino night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort where ALL proceeds and winnings went toward donations to Operation Smile.  Over the course of two hours, our teams collected more than $16,000 which we immediately donated.  That funded more than 250 surgeries!
 
Last week I received an email from Operation Smile – a newsletter – which reported that they had reached their goal of $110,000 needed to help ship more than $1 million worth of “critical, lifesaving medical supplies to medical missions around the world.” It was a heart-warming way to start my Friday morning, but more importantly, it perfectly illustrated the old adage that “every little bit counts.”  I know this first-hand.
 
I recently returned from an Operation Smile mission to Colombia. My goal was to help medical personnel build an infrastructure that would allow them to evaluate and diagnose patients using video conferencing technology. I’ve conducted such missions in the past, but this one felt a bit different.  Our video technology gave others hope for a better life.  There’s simply no price tag that can be placed on that.  
 
Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing my journey in the quest to help Operation Smile treat as many children as possible.  You can help too. By supporting and donating to Operation Smile, you can change the life of a child in need.
 
I’m very proud of the work we’re doing here. Often times we get caught up in the importance of enterprise collaboration. But it’s also important to take a step back and realize that these technologies being used in the business world can also serve an incredible purpose. I’m glad Polycom and our customers have the vision to make this purpose a reality.