Children's interactive technology program to provide wireless access & bedside connectivity for young patients while in hospital
Quebec City, Quebec - May 11, 2006 - Microsoft Canada Co., together with the Centre Hospitalier Unversitaire du Quebec (CHUQ) in Quebec City today announced an initiative to establish a Child Life Interactive Computers for Kids (CLICK) program. The CLICK program will provide consoles and games for Xbox® video game system, wireless access, hardware and software to children in the hospital and create an environment that will enable them to connect with school, family, and friends during frequent or lengthy periods of hospitalization.
As the President and CEO of the Foundation du CHUQ, Mr. Denis Rhéaume, pointed out: "Children who are gravely ill always surprise us with their great maturity. This is why the introduction of play activities at the Mother and Child Centre, which will house the CLICK program, restores a balance in the lives of our young patients, who often spend several days a year at the hospital. The CLICK program is wonderful because it meets the needs of today's children to stay connected to the Internet."
The CLICK program at CHUQ is the second implementation of its kind in Canada and the first in Quebec. Microsoft Canada and the Children's Miracle Network launched the initiative in May 2005, at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, Ontario.
"Our youth patients come to us facing challenges that are much different than the average adolescent," said Maureen Jones, Child Life Specialist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. "The CLICK program allows them to stay connected to friends, family, classmates and teachers so that they can pursue their interests and aspirations in a difficult hospital setting."
Once deployed, the Child Life Interactive Computers for Kids (CLICK) program at CHUQ will include:
| • | Hardware and software (laptops, PCs, Tablet PCs, web cameras and Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system) |
| • | consoles and games for Xbox appropriate for various age groups |
| • | Technical support |
| • | Internet connectivity |
| • | Furniture (desks and chairs) |
| • | Employee support |
"Microsoft Canada is thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with CHUQ," said Phil Sorgen, President, Microsoft Canada. "The goal of the CLICK program in the children's hospitals is to bring a little bit of what kids have at home and school, into the hospital environment. Our aim is to give the young patients the technological tools to help interact with family and friends so that they will continue to learn and grow, and hopefully help make their time at CHUQ a little easier."
About CHUQ
A leader in the hospital philanthropic sector, Foundation du CHUQ supports the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Québec in accomplishing its mission of excellence, for the maintenance and continuous improvement of care provided to the community.
CHUQ is an institution that offers general, specialty and super specialty care to the clientele of the Greater Quebec region and all of Eastern Quebec. It seeks to attain the highest standards of quality and excellence in care and the organization of services to the public. By its leadership, CHUQ, in partnership with Université Laval, promotes the development of innovative approach aimed at improving public health. It is also a leader in teaching, research and evaluation of new technology.
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Visit Microsoft Canada's web site at www.microsoft.ca
©2006 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft, Windows and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
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