NICU nurses first in nation to use new technology as a bridge from parents to the youngest patients

Carle Foundation Hospital (CFH) is the only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the region offering Level III perinatal care for newborns with critical conditions. On average, staff care for 35 babies each day in the NICU from an area that stretches west from Bloomington and Decatur, east to Danville and south to Olney. This distance, and potentially long NICU stays, mean some parents may need to leave their healing babies at times in the care of CFH staff.

Now, Carle’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is helping parents stay connected with their babies through technology. It is the first unit in the U.S. to offer an innovative and secure application where nurses share photos and video as the baby progresses. It’s called vCreate and is already in use in the U.K.

“Leaving a newborn at the hospital is naturally stressful for parents, some with limited visits for a variety of reasons such as distance from the hospital, work commitments, or caring for siblings of the newborn,” Kara Weigler, RN, manager, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit said. “We receive such positive feedback from parents about having this application available. We can take video of a baby having a bath or photos of the newborns as they progress.”

Not only do parents receive visual updates on their baby’s progress, but nurses also mark special occasions such as visits with Santa Claus.

For Carle Health team members, offering this free tool is just part of the type of care experience they strive for every day. And with such limited options for the level of care the CFH NICU provides, they take that responsibility very seriously.

“If someone cannot deliver, due to a complex pregnancy, at their community hospital, they are transported here,” Weigler said. More than 100 transports arrive at Carle yearly.

Syvanna Keith, who also has a 3-year-old, drives an hour to see her baby who is in the NICU after surgery due to an intestinal blockage. “Having a baby in the NICU is stressful and the nurses in the NICU have been wonderful to work with. Seeing photos of baby Bryan Duane when I am not there really helps a lot.”

A Carle nurse discovered the vCreate application at a conference and introduced the idea to her colleagues. The only equipment the family needs is a smart cell phone to start receiving the photos and videos nurses record in the NICU. Parents may review the message in the language of their choice.

Learn more about Carle Health Children’s Services at Carle.org.

Categories: Culture of Quality, Community

Tags: Carle Foundation Hospital, NICU