Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Camera System in Owensboro Unites Parents with Babies in Intensive Care

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital

A hospital in Daviess County is using new technology to connect parents with their babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital has installed a camera system that allows parents to view images of their child on a secure, web-based video stream. The Owensboro Health Foundation funded $50,700 for equipment, installation, training, and a one-year remove service contract to help get the system up and running.

Owensboro Health’s NICU medical director, Dr. Bridget Burshears, said the new camera system allows parents with a child in the NICU to see images of their baby at any time.

"Any parent who has signed up for the program can log on to the internet website, and log in with a specific log-in name and password for that specific baby, and be able to see that infant in their isolator crib, and see what they are doing at any given time,” Dr. Burshears said.

She adds that the technology provides comfort to loved ones who can’t stay at the hospital throughout the baby’s stay.

"We've had families that have gone back to school, and the dad says that the reason he can focus on school is because his infant can be pulled up on his phone while sitting there in class. When we've described the system to families, some of the parents have become tearful at having the opportunity, because they're so grateful to do that."

Owensboro Health’s NICU opened in 2010, and has cared for more than 1,000 babies.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.
Related Content