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Home Stroke: Rehabilitation Is Key to Regaining Abilities Introducing the Family Vision Program Early Detection Is Key to Fighting Colorectal Cancer Joint Replacement at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Helping People Heal Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Program Don't Suffer in Silence San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Support Groups |
Introducing the Family Vision Program
Parents who deliver their babies
at San Jacinto Methodist
Hospital have a valuable new
program to count on if their newborn
needs more advanced care. The
Family Vision program, available since
February 2008, is a joint venture
between San Jacinto and Texas
Children's® Newborn Center, the
nation's largest center for the
specialized care of infants born
prematurely or with complications.A virtual visitation program for newborns transferred from San Jacinto to Texas Children's, Family Vision offers patients and their families a unique way to stay connected. Providing a high-quality video link between the two hospitals, the program gives parents a chance to visit with their new baby via remote access. A video monitor equipped with speakers and a camera is placed at the mother's bedside at San Jacinto with an identical unit and a headset placed at the baby's side at Texas Children's. Family Bonding While most babies are born healthy, 1 percent to 2 percent of the nearly 2,000 babies born each year at San Jacinto Methodist are expected to need advanced care at Texas Children's. Most will receive care in San Jacinto's 16-bed Level I nursery for healthy newborns. When needed, San Jacinto is prepared with dedicated neonatal specialists to manage care of newborns requiring medical intervention in its eight-bed Level II nursery. "Parents are encouraged to visit their baby in person whenever possible," says Nadene Dukes, MSN, RN, CNA, BC, Clinical Director of Community-Based Hospital Initiatives at Texas Children's. "For those new parents who can't make the trip to Texas Children's, a 60-mile round trip from San Jacinto, Family Vision helps families bond as soon as possible after delivery. It's also a good way to facilitate communication between families and their health care team." Family Vision is a free service available to new mothers hospitalized at San Jacinto and to mothers who have been discharged from the hospital but whose infants remain at Texas Children's. Parents can schedule regular visits via Family Vision through their baby's nurse. Peace of Mind "One nice feature about this service is the convenience it offers," Dukes explains. "The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse is available at the baby's bedside, just as if the parents were there in person. The nurse updates the parents on the plan of care, answers questions and allows time for parents to visit with the baby." "When you see the families' faces, and their reactions and emotions, you just know this is the right thing to do for patients and their families. The picture quality is superb. Parents have described Family Vision as the next best thing to being with their baby. It's so helpful to them, being able to have their questions answered as they observe their baby from the birth hospital," Dukes adds. "Most important, Family Vision has helped to minimize some of the stress and anxiety families experience when their baby is transferred to Texas Children's." To learn more about the Family Vision program, call 281-420-8625. "New parents know that they're in good
hands with Family Vision. There's a connection
waiting for them should their baby
need more advanced care." - Nadene Dukes, MSN, RN, CNA, BC |
