Parents of newborn babies who require long-term stays in the hospital often can't see their baby as much as they would like — but now, new technology at the University of Kansas Hospital can take those parents inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, any time they want.
"It gives the families the ability to see their baby any time and gives them that reassurance at night when they're sleeping, when they wake up and are able to see them, and know they're okay," said Laurie Hay, a NICU nurse at KU.
The technology involves 21 cameras strategically placed in KU's NICU. Together, these cameras form a system known as Angel Eye.
The hospital first pointed its lens recently at a baby named Charlie. She was born six weeks premature, and her father was stationed in Kuwait. With Angel Eye, he was able to check on his newborn daughter simply by pulling up the live NICU feed on his phone or tablet.
"It's hard to believe that I'm looking at my daughter seven thousand miles away in Kuwait, just watching her moving," said Sam Last, Charlie's father.
A $73,000 grant from Royals Charities helped pay for Angel Eyes.
"Although we wish no child would spend time in the hospital, we're pleased to join KU Hospital in its care of children and families," said Marie Dispenza with Royals Charities.
Justin Wilfon can be reached at justin.wilfon@kshb.com.
