Technology is fast becoming an indispensable part of our lives and now thanks to some enterprising minds, mothers will be able to monitor their new-born children after delivery via iPads.
Cedars-Sinal Hospital in Los Angeles has come up with a new program called BabyTime (a cue from Apple's FaceTime?), which would enable new mothers to bond with their babies soon after delivery.
Mothers who are not "ambulatory after delivery" can still view their infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), thanks to this iPad initiative. Being on different floors is not a constraint anymore.
"BabyTime will help bridge communication with the family and the baby's medical team and is an excellent use of technology to help new mothers bond with their babies, even when they cannot be physically at their babies' bedside," notes Charles F. Simmons Jr., MD, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Pediatrics and Ruth and Harry Roman Chair in Neonatology. "When doctors and nurses are treating a newborn in the NICU, mom can be right there asking questions and getting updates, even if she's on a different floor."
As soon as a baby is admitted to the NICU, an iPad is set up next to the incubator. A second iPad is given to the mother, who can log in to BabyTime twice a day to check on her infant.
"BabyTime is an excellent marriage of healthcare and technology, allowing us to securely use new technology to keep our patients more informed and more comfortable during their stay," says Darren Dworkin, SVP and CIO at Cedars-Sinai.
"The BabyTime program will reduce fear and stress in the new moms, as they are able to see their babies and also communicate with the doctors and nurses," says Selma Braziel, nurse manager for NICU.
Such a program definitely aids in bringing mothers closer to their newborn children and is a step forward in the use of technology.
