WellStar Kennestone Hospital is expanding the compassionate care it provides to families. Kennestone is the first hospital in Georgia to offer parents a private livestream of their baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), allowing family members to see the baby from anywhere in the world.
When babies are born prematurely or with a health condition, they may have to spend time in the NICU. Not being able to take a new baby home can create stress for a family, but creating a way to connect with the newest bundle of joy can give parents peace of mind for the moments when they cannot be with the baby.
“We are always looking for new ways to enhance the care experience and find ways to improve the lives of our patients and families,” said Dan Woods, president of WellStar Kennestone Hospital. “Our skilled, caregivers are now able to utilize the most innovative technology to complement the caring compassion we have for our patients. This will have an immediate impact on many families.”
The state-of-the-art cameras are individually mounted at each baby’s bed space, transmitting secure and private images through a service called NICVIEW®. The video can be viewed on smart phones, tablets, computers or any internet-accessible device and are not recorded or stored for security and safety.
“Although there is nothing that can replace personal contact with a newborn infant, it is not always possible to be present,” said Carole Harman, executive director of nursing, Women’s and Children’s Services, WellStar Kennestone Hospital. “With NICVIEW®, we are able to unite parents, siblings and grandparents to the baby through a live feed camera system; it’s technology that connects families’ hearts.”
This program was funded by donations to the WellStar Foundation by WellStar Kennestone Hospital Volunteers. To learn more or to make a personal contribution to the WellStar Foundation, visit wellstar.org/give or call 770-956-GIVE (4483).
About WellStar Health System
WellStar Health System, the largest health system in Georgia, is known nationally for its innovative care models, focused on improving quality and access to healthcare. WellStar consists of WellStar Medical Group, 240 medical office locations, outpatient centers, health parks, a pediatric center, nursing centers, hospice, homecare, as well as 11 hospitals: WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, WellStar Atlanta Medical Center South, WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital), WellStar West Georgia Medical Center, and WellStar Cobb, Douglas, North Fulton, Paulding, Spalding Regional, Sylvan Grove and Windy Hill hospitals. As a not-for-profit, WellStar continues to reinvest in the health of the communities it serves with new technologies and treatments. For more information, visit wellstar.org.
