Hong Kong (3 March 2010) - Polycom healthcare solutions work in tandem with key healthcare applications to deliver improved patient care, streamlined communications and workflow, enhance productivity, and significant and immediate ROI for healthcare providers.

"Polycom understands the challenges faced by healthcare organizations today, and we've have been improving communications in this industry for a number of years," said Ron Emerson, director of Global Healthcare Markets for Polycom. "We provide a wide portfolio of solutions and services that meet healthcare providers' needs, and we're accelerating efforts with Polycom Open Collaboration Network (POCN) partners to offer our customers fully integrated end-to-end solutions that can help improve patient care and enable organizations to achieve greater efficiencies."

The healthcare industry faces significant challenges, including healthcare provider shortage, an aging population with more than 70 million baby boomers, limited financial resources, remote and medically underserved areas, and rigorous continuing education requirements for certified healthcare professionals. To address these issues, Polycom provides unified communications (UC) solutions for the healthcare industry that address workflow, clinical needs and requirements for maintaining the highest level of patient care and privacy while optimizing resources. Polycom's solutions for healthcare offer flexibility, scalability, durability, and mobility, all of which are key requirements in the medical industry.

"Polycom plays a pivotal role in creating a connected healthcare environment," said Andrew R Watson, M.D., MLitt., medical director for the Center for Connected Medicine and vice president at UPMC. "Their work in telemedicine conferencing, and other forms of communication fundamentally transforms the way providers see patients and interact with one another. Polycom's technologies bring real cost efficiencies into the system while, also enabling high quality care."

The Polycom connected healthcare demonstration at HIMSS10 exemplifies how seamless patient and caregiver communications can occur regardless of location, thereby improving patient outcomes and saving time and money for all involved. The demonstration illustrates a real-world scenario where a hospitalized patient communicates with healthcare providers both in the hospital and remotely via Polycom systems. Remote physicians are able to assess the patient, prescribe treatment and confirm that the course of treatment is being followed.

All products featured in the Polycom connected healthcare demonstration are available and shipping today. Polycom is also providing its wireless telephones to the HIMSS Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) showcase for the second consecutive year.