Ascension’s Telepresence System Will Take You There.
Business travel within our ministry is both a blessing and a curse. Any associate who has traveled on behalf of the organization knows it’s an excellent way to connect with colleagues, though being out of town presents certain challenges – unfamiliar hotel rooms, expensive taxi rides, inability to focus on work priorities, and most importantly, being away from loved ones.
Ascension has found an alternative: TelePresence. This real-time, life-size, easy-to-use video conferencing system offers associates the ability to connect without the stress and expense of travel.
Heard Around the Water Cooler: Why Associates Are Not Using TelePresence
I need a face-to-face meeting to be able to read body language and hear all of what attendees have to say.
Using TelePresence is as close to being in a room with someone as you can be without actually being there. When you use the system, meeting attendees appear real-size and audio is real-time. It’s amazing how life-like the system truly is.
Scheduling a TelePresence session must be hard to do.
Scheduling a TelePresence call is easy. File a ticket with the Service Desk at 888.372.7700 and a member of the Ascension Health Information Services (AHIS) Telecom Team will work with you to set up your meeting.
I have never used a video conferencing system, and understand they are not built for the average Joe.
Actually, once you file a ticket to set up your TelePresence conference, accessing the session means pushing one button on the phone in the TelePresence room. At most internal TelePresence sites, an AHIS representative is available to assist you with a TelePresence call. When you file your ticket, simply mention that you would like to have an AHIS technician join you prior to the session beginning.
I was told that my site’s TelePresence system is only for executive use.
TelePresence was bought by Ascension for all associates to use for business purposes. Priority is given to executive sessions; however, any associate using the system for Ascension business is encouraged to use TelePresence in lieu of travel.
I do not have a budget to pay for a TelePresence session.
TelePresence has no per-session cost.
My meeting has a presentation, so I will not be able to use TelePresence.
TelePresence has a component built into the tool that allows presenters to project.
Some of my meeting attendees only will be available by phone, so it would be better for us to just have a webinar.
TelePresence has the AT&T Connect conferencing tool built into it, allowing both on-site video conference participants and phone participants.
The local TelePresence system is not in my building.
Associates are reimbursed for mileage even if it is within your hometown. Plus, traveling 30 minutes to a different location is a lot easier than traveling nine hours to a different city. The TelePresence contact at your site will be more than happy to provide explicit directions on how to gain access to your local system.
I want to use TelePresence, but I need to schedule a meeting for three days from now. There’s no way that can be accomplished.
If the TelePresence system is not booked during the time you need to have your meeting, a session can be scheduled with only 24-hours' notice.
I have a travel budget that I need to use or I will lose it.
Budgets are tight. Any associate who is able to reduce expenses will be appreciated by his or her leaders.
TelePresence is Available at 18 Ascension Sites
No matter where you are located within Ascension, you can use a TelePresence system. The following sites have TelePresence in-house:
• Alexian Brothers Health System, Arlington Heights, Ill.
• Ascension Office (Clayton), St. Louis
• Ascension Health System Office (Edmundson), St. Louis
• Ascension Health System Office (Woodlands), St. Louis
• Ascension Health System Office, Washington, D.C.
• Carondelet Health Network, Tucson, Ariz.
• Columbia St. Mary’s, Milwaukee
• Ministry Service Center, Indianapolis
• Sacred Heart Health System, Pensacola, Fla.
• Saint Agnes Healthcare, Baltimore
• St. Mary’s Health System, Evansville, Ind.
• Saint Thomas Health, Nashville, Tenn.
• St. John Providence Health System, Detroit, Mich.
• St.Vincent Health, Indianapolis
• St. Vincent’s Health Services, Bridgeport, Conn.
• St. Vincent’s Health System, Birmingham, Ala.
• Seton Healthcare Family, Austin, Texas
If your site does not have an in-house system, please open a ticket with the Service Desk at 888.372.7700 to begin the process of locating a site nearest you.
For more information on TelePresence, contact the Service Desk or your local AHIS (IT) team.
