8 December 2020

Santa will be working remotely this holiday season with the help of NTT’s telehealth technology

Patients of Shriners Hospitals for Children will receive a special cyber visit from good old Saint Nick

NEW YORK –  8 December 2020 – NTT Ltd., a world-leading global technology services provider, and Shriners Hospitals for Children will be helping Santa Claus come to town virtually to visit with young patients at Shriners locations in Philadelphia, PA; Salt Lake City, UT; Shreveport, LA and Greenville, SC on December 8 and 9 this holiday season.

Though Santa will be travelling by the usual reindeer and sleigh to much of the world, the North Pole’s Elven Health Minister has advised him to take extra precaution for children currently in hospital, so extra social distancing measures are being taken. Santa and his workshop will be carried to each hospital location via the same telehealth technology used to connect medical professionals with patients that live far away or are unable to visit in person.

A leader in Intelligent Workplace infrastructure and services, NTT is no stranger to remote work and has worked with Shriners and Santa in utilizing their state-of-the-art telehealth technology to connect patients and Santa virtually, long before the pandemic. In fact, this will be the eighth consecutive year NTT and Shriners have worked together to facilitate the virtual visits, leveraging telehealth technology that is increasingly relevant with the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 2020, telehealth has become a more common way to receive medical treatment and the telemedicine market is expected to continue on an explosive growth trajectory,” said Mitch Hershkowitz, Vice President, Advisory & Consulting Services at NTT Ltd. “We’re happy to be able to leverage our technology to help ensure that children in particular not only get the help they need from the medical community, but also experience a bit of holiday magic and cheer.”

Children at select Shriners Hospital locations will have the opportunity to have a virtual chat with Santa in real-time with the help of large screens and high-definition video cameras in cheerful locations that will have been prepared in advance by the North Pole’s own Elven Decoration Department. Then, following their special visit with Santa, each child will receive a special gift bag from Santa, care of his helper elves.

“Thanks to NTT, children across our health care system will have a personal, virtual visit with Santa Claus,” said Phillip Grady, Vice President of Hospital Operations at Shriners Hospitals for Children. “Giving kids something to smile about is more important than ever this time of year.”

This year, the Cyber Santa event will be held on December 8 in Greenville, SC and Salt Lake City, UT, and December 9 in Shreveport, LA and Philadelphia, PA.

-ENDS-

About NTT Ltd.

NTT Ltd. is a leading global technology services company. Working with organizations around the world, we achieve business outcomes through intelligent technology solutions. For us, intelligent means data driven, connected, digital and secure. Our global assets and integrated ICT stack capabilities provide unique offerings in cloud-enabling networking, hybrid cloud, data centers, digital transformation, client experience, workplace and cybersecurity. As a global ICT provider, we employ more than 40,000 people in a diverse and dynamic workplace that spans 57 countries, trading in 73 countries and delivering services in over 200 countries and regions. Together we enable the connected future.

Visit us at hello.global.ntt

About Shriners Hospitals for Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our health care system provides advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. All care and services are provided regardless of the families' ability to pay. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. For more information, please visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

Media enquiries:

Evan Jordan
NTT Ltd.
T: +1-704-943-9345
E: evan.jordan@global.ntt

Stephanie Byrwa
Shriners Hospitals for Children
T: +1-215-983-0401
E: sbyrwa@shrinenet.org

Mary Katherine Galoozis
Wireside Communications for NTT Ltd.

T: +1- 804-510-0510
E: mgaloozis@wireside.com