Unified Communications (UC) has been such an abstract concept to try to explain.  Much of it is about speeding specific business processes, so talking about it in a vacuum can be nearly impossible. Which is why we’re getting such a kick out of this video that Microsoft put out a few years ago for its UC solutions. Take a look below

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=e18cde86-4432-4abc-917f-ae5baeacfb45

As Engage has been getting ready to exhibit our xRM & UC  healthcare solution accelerators at HIMSS in the booth of one of our partners (Siemens Communications), our team has been trying to think about how to get the UC message out to the healthcare world.  On a whim, we started throwing together a script for a healthcare focused ad modeled after the Microsoft one. Now Engage doesn’t have the equipment or budget to actually put something like this together with Hollywood quality, but a guy can dream can’t he?  What do you think, do we have something ‘Hollywood worthy’?

Scene opens with our heroes Jp, Kirk, Ellie, and Carmela sitting around a counter in a hospital. The four look like characters from a certain well-known medical sit-com. An angry Dr. fox comes storming around the corner, screaming with a handful of charts.

Fox: Oh, Saandra!

JP scrambles to attention a look of terror in his eyes. Fox gets right up in his face, glowering, voice dripping with sarcasm

Fox: Sandra, I know your enjoying tea time with the rest of the sorority girls but if you could pull yourself away from that mocha latte for just a few minutes there are people sick here, some of them your patients even. Now I know you’re busy gossiping but it’s generally frowned upon when you don’t check on your patients alll morning.

JP: I was going to Dr. Fox, but I didn’t get into the clinic until ten. I know my shift started at nine, but there was this really interesting article on cake baking in the paper this morning, so I lost track of time, and the my scooter pasha wouldn’t start so I had take the bus into work and I hate taking the bus into working. Today I sat next to this creepy woman who smelled like -

(JP stops because he sees Fox is giving him a “You’ve got to be kidding me look”)

What? Why are you staring at me like that.

Fox: Honestly, I don’t know why I bother making fun of you Kathy, you do a good enough job yourself.  Walk with me.

(Fox turns without waiting and JP scrambles to catch up, leaving the rest behind. Fox starts talking without even waiting)

Fox: (As he lists of patient names, he throws a chart at JP. JP struggles to hold onto all of them.) Miss Delaney has a rash developing on her lower calf (Throws chart) Mr. Davies is complaining about pain in his left hip, you need to check on the blood work for Mr. Nancy, the results of Pamela’s CT scan should be in, (Fox continues listing off more patient names and ailments until JP holds all the charts and staggers around awkwardly with them.) (sarcastically) Now I’ve got to pick up my kid from daycare, something hysterical from my wife about vomit and tears, so it’d be just dandy if you could have all this done by the time I get back. Understood.

JP: Oh I don’t know Dr. Fox, I think the blood lab tech has this thing against me because I accidentally knocked over his micrscope-

(Fox whistles to cut JP off)

Fox: No see clearly you don’t understand because because this wasn’t a request, it was a command. Got that Newbie? You get it done, or else I’ll make your world spin so fast that a tornado will look tame in comparison. Got that. Now go!

(Fox turns and walks quickly away. JP scrambes over to a table and sets the charts down, reaching in his pocket to pull out a UC enabled smart phone.)

Not a bad intro? Huh. I won’t bore you with the full script but I will give you a quick peek at the sorts of ways JP uses UC to get the job done.

1. He takes a picture of Miss Delaney’s rash and then emails it to a dermatologist friend, calling him right after for a quick over the phone diagnosis. Sends additional pictures too, during the call.
2. Puts in an order for a new microscope through the purchasing department using hospitals web based requistion order form through his cellphone. Forwards a copy of the requisition confirmaiton to the blood lab tech with the note “Sorry, put in an order for your new scope. We good now?” along with it. Lab tech sends back a “yes” with blood work results attached.
3. Avoids the janitor who’s out to get him with a quick text warning message sent by his friend Kirk.
4. Emails the lab tech asking about the CT scan results. Gets a response back with the scans attached a few minutes later. All this while replacing a patient’s IV.

Now all we need is the time and budget to actually shoot this thing in HD or IMAX. Anyone got a couple hundred thousand dollars they could spare?

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