Babies born prematurely can be hospitalized for weeks or even months, making it difficult for parents and family to always be by their sides. To make parents' time away from their newborns a little less stressful, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) has installed the NicView 2 in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to give parents an on- demand, 24/7, video-only view of their infants through a computer or phone app.

"Having the NicView camera system in our NICU has been transformative for both parents and healthcare providers," said Scarlett McKinsey, MD, associate director of neonatology for Northwell's eastern region. "It allows parents to stay connected with their premature babies, offering a sense of reassurance and emotional support during a challenging time. For the medical team, it enhances communication and collaboration with families, ensuring they are involved in every step of their baby's care journey."

Sixteen password protected cameras are now in place and offer end-to-end encryption and SSL authentication, ensuring a high degree of privacy. In addition to alleviating the anxiety associated with having an infant in the NICU, the program also enhances bonding, facilitates trust between staff and parents, alleviates guilt for parents who must go to work, and acclimates them to the transition home. The live streams are not recorded.

When new mom Santina Bloom gave birth to triplets on May 3, all three of her children—Isabella, Jack, and Tyler—were placed in the NICU. Having access to the NICU cameras made all the difference for the new mom.

“We were so excited to be able to see them at home. They gave us a login, it was super easy, and I cried the first time they put the camera on them because they were all together,” shared Bloom. “The camera was so reassuring. I had three of them, so once the two boys were home, it was harder to go see Isabella. But I could put the laptop on when I was home with the boys, and it was almost like she was home in a way.”

The entire $142,000 cost of the project, including installation, was funded by philanthropic support. The fundraising effort was led by SSUH Board member and donor Karen Grando, who was joined by Frank Boulton, Suffolk Transportation, Webster Bank, Frank Bono and the 2023 Rosé committee.

SSUH's 6,300-square-foot NICU opened in October 2022 and is dedicated to treating the most critically ill and premature babies. The NICU is part of a $71 million capital improvement plan to revolutionize the maternity and women's services programs at SSUH. Each room has a pull-out bed for parents and features the highest-level medical equipment available for newborns.

For more information or to book an appointment visit: https://ssuh.northwell.edu/women-and-childrens-center.