When it comes to caring for the tiniest patients at WakeMed, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team is constantly thinking of innovative ways to enhance the overall experience for parents and infants. That’s why WakeMed recently added a NicView™ streaming camera system at the Level IV NICU in Raleigh and the Level III Special Care Nurseries in North Raleigh and Cary.

“These cameras have been a dream of our ours for a while,” said Mallory Magelli McKeown, manager of family navigation, WakeMed Children’s. “Now, parents can peek in and see their babies while away; that can really lower the anxiety for some parents until they can get back to the bedside.”

New parents are juggling a lot of responsibilities while dealing with a number of emotions, and they are often torn between staying bedside or tending to other needs such as work, other children and their own rest.

“If these cameras make stepping away for a while easier on parents, then that’s a big win for everyone!” said Sharon Hershkowitz, RN, NICU program coordinator, who helped submit a grant request for funding the camera system from the WakeMed Foundation. Thanks to that funding,
there are now 60 cameras available across the WakeMed system.

How it Works

NicView™ is an innovative Streaming Camera System placed at designated bed spaces in the NICU that allows parents, family and friends to view their infant in real-time, 24/7, through a secure on-line portal.

Family members can securely access NicView from anywhere there is an internet connection via a laptop, smartphone or tablet. Access to this service is optional and made available at the discretion of the care team, based on clinical care plans and the overall benefit to families.

When the team is caring for a baby, the camera is placed in privacy mode.

Virtual Visits for Loved Ones

An added bonus for parents is that they have the ability to give access to extended family and friends if they wish. Since visitation is more restricted in intensive care units, this is a great way for parents to connect loved ones so they can see the babies without the risks that come along with in-person visits.

With a focus on easing fears and encouraging healthy interaction, the goal is to create as many opportunities as possible for family bonding in those first days, weeks and months of life.

Parents Grateful for Peace of Mind

Erin Dorshorst and Chris Wills welcomed their identical twin sons into the world in August 2021, and they are grateful for the ability to use NicView in several different ways.

“It makes going home a little easier; definitely reduces anxiety when I’m away,” said Dorshorst. “It adds a ton of peace of mind because you can watch them sleeping or see them babbling and know that they’re okay.” Wills has been back at work, and he uses NicView to check on their babies while at the office. He has a browser up for each one, and they’re live streaming all the time unless they’re receiving medical care. The ability for both parents to see their babies in real-time keeps them more connected as a parent team, too. “He is more connected to their journey because he can see what’s going on and ask questions or make a suggestion such as asking me to pull a blanket up for one of the boys,” said Dorshorst. “He visits after work, but this lets both of us see how they’re doing at the same time from different places.”

Nurses and parents can also leave fun little updates on screen. Dorshorst placed bedside birthday messages on screen with her twins for their Dad and Grandma.

“When they logged on that day, they had an extra special message from the boys,” said Dorshorst. Some parents find that the extra connection helps strengthen their support circle because family and friends can tune in and see the babies when it works for them. “That live camera view also helps me have different types of conversations because others can log in and see for themselves that all is okay; that seems to reduce worrisome questions and help us enjoy more bonding moments,” said Dorshorst. “Some are tuning in enough that they are already trying to figure out the little differences between the two boys — it’s really cute!”

Global Connection

The ability to see a grandchild or a loved one’s new baby from almost anywhere has been extra helpful and appreciated during the COVID pandemic with ongoing travel concerns and necessary hospital visitation restrictions.

“We saw a need for it well before COVID, but we are glad it has been available during this challenging time for so many families and care providers,” said Magelli McKeown.

The NicView system at WakeMed already has an average of over 7,000 views per month. The system was piloted in early 2021, and Magelli McKeown excitedly reported that by August they’d already reached nearly 44,000 log-ins from 10 different countries and nearly all 50 States!

Families from all over the world are tuning in to enjoy those sweet, early moments and see those adorable tiny fingers and toes!