BRANDON, Fla. — New technology is rolling out at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.
The Level III NICU cares for a few hundred babies each year.
Some babies stay there for a few hours, while others spend more than 200 days there.
Parents already had access to live cameras to check on their little ones.
Now, an upgraded system is giving families more ways to stay connected.
On Wednesday morning, Shahrazad Coates held her baby girl, Aylah.
This little warrior has been showing her strength, after being born premature at 26 weeks.
Since July, Aylah has been at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital’s NICU.
This is after Coates was rushed to the hospital after feeling ill. She soon learned her blood pressure was dangerously high.
“She weighed one pound and eight ounces, and she was so small you could fit her in the palm of your hand. It was pretty scary at first,” said Coates.
That’s because she’d never seen a baby that small.
“When I first got discharged from the hospital, of course, I had to leave Aylah here, you know, so she could get the care that she needs. I was a little sad at first because I was like, I’m not going to be able to see my baby,” shared Coates.
Little did she know, she’d have access to Aylah at all times through a camera-system called AngelEye Health, a HIPAA-compliant NICU patient engagement platform.
To gain access, families receive a passcode.
“I was so excited because I’m like, yes, now I can see my baby anytime. I’m at the Ronald McDonald House, which is 22 minutes away. I will watch her day and night on that camera. I will fall asleep watching her on the camera,” admitted Coates.
NICU nurse Jeannie Sosa Sibilly knows what these families go through.
She shared, “Being in the NICU in general, regardless of how many weeks, is difficult because it’s taken them away from what that idea of that delivery was supposed to be.”
By mom’s side, Sosa Sibilly sees the growth.
And improvements are made all around.
For the first time at this hospital, the NICU’s camera system received an upgrade, with better camera quality, access to more than 70 languages, and the ability to track milk-pumping sessions and milk inventory.
HSA Florida Brandon Hospital officials said they’ve never had anything this interactive before.
“It’s nice for them, especially our moms that are pumping, that are up every three hours, they get to see their babies on camera while they’re pumping, it does help with milk production to have that distraction to kind of see their baby,” said Sibilly.
Even if she’s away, Coates feels close through the camera.
Coates added, “I feel like she’s always right there.”
Aylah now weighs almost six pounds.
For Coates, it’s more than a camera. It’s capturing every small victory and every sign of strength.
“It gives me peace, it gives me hope, and it gives me reassurance that I know she’s well taken care of and everything is going to be okay,” Coates said with a smile.