Murfreesboro, TN - Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital is transforming the way families stay connected with their newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through the launch of a new secure camera system. This cutting-edge technology, which went live on November 5, allows families to engage with their little ones even when they can't be physically present at the hospital, making a difficult time just a little easier.
The video cameras provide secure, live-stream video access to a baby’s progress from the comfort of any device—whether it’s a phone, tablet, or computer. The camera, which is positioned at the bedside, captures real-time footage of the baby’s movements, allowing parents to feel more connected with their child as they watch them grow and develop.
Staying connected through every moment
In addition to the live video feed, the camera platform includes a secure, one-way communication tool that enables clinical staff to send parents vital updates and precious moments through text, photos, or recorded video. This feature ensures that parents don’t miss any important information or milestones while their baby is in the NICU.
A gift from the Rutherford Foundation
This innovative service was made possible by the generous support of the Rutherford Foundation, which successfully led a fundraising effort to bring this advanced visual technology to Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital’s NICU. The Foundation’s steadfast dedication to improving the healthcare experience for families in the community has truly made this initiative a reality.
Fostering stronger family connections
“Having a baby in the NICU is a challenging experience for many parents,” said Gordon B. Ferguson, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford. “With this new technology at the bedside, we aim to keep parents involved in their baby’s care, even when they can’t be physically present.”
The new camera system allows parents to stay involved and informed about their baby’s care in a meaningful way. Beyond the live video feed, the platform sends notifications to alert parents when new updates are available, ensuring they never miss a precious moment or essential care information. This constant communication helps ease the emotional stress of being apart from their newborn, while ensuring parents feel like essential members of the care team.
Supporting parents as key members of the care team
The new system offers more than just video access—it’s an integrated platform designed to support parents and their baby’s care every step of the way. The system also includes educational resources, helping parents prepare to care for their baby when it’s time to take them home. Whether it’s through replays of important moments, one-way communication from the care team, or educational support, the platform is designed to make parents feel supported and involved throughout their baby’s NICU stay.
“Parents and family members naturally want to be involved in their baby's care,” said Sandra J. Walmsley, MSN, RN, director of nursing for maternal child services at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. “Being physically present to care for your infant is not always possible, especially when an extended stay in the hospital is required. Providing parents, siblings, and other family members the option to visit their newborn remotely, via the video application, has been proven to make parents and family members feel more connected to their baby, reduce anxiety, and promote bonding.”
Enhancing the care experience for everyone
For the NICU staff, the camera system also enhances efficiency by reducing the need for constant in-person updates, allowing them to focus more on direct care for the hospital’s tiniest patients. With parents able to access updates remotely, staff can spend more time providing hands-on care for the babies while still keeping families informed.
Looking forward
Families at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital’s NICU have a powerful new tool to stay connected, informed, and engaged in their baby’s care. This new technology is part of the hospital’s continued commitment to family-centered care, offering parents peace of mind and enhancing the care experience for both families and staff.
For more information on NICU care and the Birthing Center at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital visit our website.
About Ascension Saint Thomas
Ascension Saint Thomas is a leading health care system with a 125-year history of providing care to the community, and is the only faith-based, non profit health system in Middle Tennessee. Today, the health system offers a highly comprehensive system of care, with more than 250 sites of care that cover a 45-county area in Tennessee consisting of 16 hospitals and a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 13,000 dedicated associates who care for millions of patients each year. Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nation’s largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.
