A new "virtual visitation" program started at St. John's Hospital Friday allows patients to see and hear visitors without worrying about catching the flu from them.
The Web cam hookups were launched in reponse to St. John's new restrictions on hospital visitors. Due to the outbreak of H1N1, the hospital has stopped letting visitors under age 18 or anyone who has flu symptoms access St. John's Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children's Center and Birth Center.
Instead, with the help of hospital staff, patients are loaned computers equipped with Web cams, which can connect to another computer in the hospital lobby or a would-be visitor's computer at home.
"We recognize that the birth of a new sibling is an important milestone for a child or teenager," said Stephanie Lake, the Birth Center's manager. "Because of the new precautions we put in place to protect our patients from exposure to the H1N1 virus, we felt it was important to give families the option of visiting new moms through Internet video."
Kaleb Helwig and his 2-year-old daughter Kinley were the first visitors to take advantage of virtual visitation in the lobby of the Carol Jo Vecchie Center on Friday morning.
"It worked great considering Kinley was restless about not being able to join my wife during her doctor's appointment. By using this, we were able to support (my wife) Jody emotionally," Helwig said.
The idea for the Web cam program began with the Birth Center staff who wanted to find a way for brothers and sisters to see their newest addition to the family, said St. John's spokesman Brian Reardon.
He said staff members were aware patients have previously been able to virtually meet with family.
"A patient was not able to make a funeral, but was able to participate by Skype and see the funeral by webcam," Reardon said.
While St. John's will provide the computers for the patients in their rooms and a visitor in the lobby, a visitor must have a Web camera on their personal computer if they want to do a virtual visit from home. If a family does not have a Web camera, they could still use any Internet-enabled computer to see the patient on the Web and communicate audibly on the phone. Connections are made via services such as Skype or Yahoo. Visitors should indicate which Web camera service they would like to use if they are making the virtual visit from home.
Those wishing to connect with a patient in either the Birth Center or the pediatrics floor of the Children's Hospital can call ahead to arrange the hookup. Visitors should call (217) 544-6464, press zero to be connected with the hospital operator, who will connect them with the appropriate charge nurse on duty.
Photo Cutline: Kaleb Helwig and his 2-year-old daughter Kinley take advantage of virtual visitation in the lobby of the Carol Jo Vecchie Center on Friday morning.
