Health Fairs are important for corporations. These gatherings of physicians, therapists, and vendors help employees gain crucial information and allow those in the health industry to spread the word. But, as is the case with many of these fairs, long lines, stifling crowds and immense stacks of handouts make for a hectic, and at times unhealthy experience! Last week, PGi’s HR department took the annual benefits fair from table tops to desktops for its first ever Virtual Health Fair.

Using iMeet and GlobalMeet to host the fair helped supercharge our benefits communications and make it more convenient for employees to participate. From food portion control to prescriptions, vendors shared information on ways PGi associates could live healthier, more balanced lives. In turn, we demonstrated how the HR industry can use iMeet and GlobalMeet for their business needs.

Through iMeet’s “Files” feature, vendors stored documents and videos for attendees to download. Handouts ranged from delicious recipes to body transformation photos. Because the fair was hosted virtually, those who missed the event are free to download fliers and handouts online.

Karrie Andes, Sr. Benefits Manager said she decided to take the fair virtual because she didn’t want associates in smaller offices or home offices to miss out on wellness. She believed that as a virtual company, PGi should always be finding ways to take its work to the web.

“I love iMeet and started thinking how it could be just like a regular fair,” she said. “The iMeet room holds 15 people; a table holds about the same amount. If the room is busy, just click back later!”

Whether it was the flexibility, convenience or the interactive display, our hosts were all impressed by iMeet and GlobalMeet, and thrilled to be a part of the future of healthcare. So, in preparing for the next health or benefits fair, we, as well as our clients, will keep in mind the importance of using the advantages of virtual tools to improve health and wellness.

We’ve discussed how convenient and flexible the virtual aspect of the health fair is. But, it’s also a very green alternative. As a virtual meetings and solutions company, PGi is committed to helping the environment. Using the handy Carbon Calculator on our website, we found out just how much hosting the fair online did to help reduce carbon emission. By allowing employees to stay home, approximately 6,000 pounds of carbon were saved over the course of 6,000-plus miles. So yes, you could say our first virtual health fair was a success for the vendors, the employees, and maybe most importantly, the environment!

As we’ve mentioned here before, the web is a growing avenue for health. It’s also a perfectly adequate one that showcases the virtual world’s ability to cater to the mobile and immobile. How does your company do health fairs? Are you ready to take your next health fair from clustered table tops to your own personal desktop?