The dilemma for WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA was how to best capture the expanding services and advanced technology of its more than 700-bed hospital for hundreds of physicians and thousands of people in the communities it serves. Instead of inviting the people to the hospital, administrators decided to take the not- for-profit hospital to the community via the Internet and promotional CD.

"An open house idea morphed into a high-tech idea, using advanced virtual tour technology to create an interactive tour of WellStar Kennestone Hospital's areas of excellence," said Amy Adams, marketing and public relations representative, WellStar Health System. "We realized we could reach thousands more people using this method rather than hosting a one-night event for hundreds. Our 'guests' can now tour the hospital in the comfort of their home or office at their convenience and speed."

WellStar looked to Suwanee, GA-based VirtualVue, LLC to create the customized hospital virtual tour utilizing various software applications to produce high-quality, and spherical panoramic scenes of WellStar Kennestone Hospital areas including its new CyberKnife cancer treatment technology, vascular lab, 3-D cardiac imaging lab, PET/CT scanner, neonatal intensive care unit, and cardiovascular operating rooms. (To view the web version of the Kennestone virtual tour, go to:

"The healthcare industry finds the virtual tours extremely efficient and cost-effective when recruiting physicians or alerting the public about new medical services," said Matthew Gora, president of VirtualVue, LLC. "We provide a way for hospitals to invite people inside places within their facility otherwise off limits or hard to access due to clinical schedules and patient privacy."

Using the latest software technology and professional photographic equipment, capturing a room, or scene, for a virtual tour takes minutes on- site. The time-consuming work takes place during post-production to transform traditional static photographic images into a fully interactive and seamless 360 degree view. To educate viewers on the technology, equipment or rooms they are touring, each scene is accompanied by a text script or voice-over. These "hot spots," are placed on specific areas within a scene and can be clicked on for further explanation.

"The response to the virtual tour has been positive and the visibility great," added Adams. "As a result of the tool's ease of use, customization capabilities and the stellar relationship we have with VirtualVue's production team, we plan to produce virtual tours for WellStar's other four hospitals in the Metro Atlanta area."

About VirtualVue

VirtualVue, LLC is a privately held company founded by individuals with over 25 years in both the sales and marketing and technology industries. Their goal is to revolutionize the virtual tour industry and be recognized as the world leader in virtual tour production.