Neonatal Camera Program at Intermountain Health Expands to Allow Families to Check on Their Babies

Intermountain Health is expanding the use of AngelEye cameras to four of its neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Utah, allowing parents and families to see their babies even when they’re not at the hospital.

The camera systems have already been in place since 2020 for NICU patients at Primary Children’s Hospital. Parents liked the system so much that Intermountain decided to expand it to more hospitals.

“Having a child in the NICU is hard enough for parents so being able to look at your phone and see your baby can be comforting,” said Jonathan McCully, MD, medical director for NICU at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital. “It gives families reassurance when they’re away from the hospital and can’t always be there.”

St. George Regional Hospital launched their new system at the beginning of March, and families are already enjoying the benefits.

Morgan Rowley had her baby at 26 weeks and was one of the first families at the hospital to have access to the video system.

“We logged on the first morning and got to see her which gave us great peace of mind,” said Rowley. “I’ve had some mother’s guilt for not being with her at all times, so it’s great to see her through Angel Eye which is comforting.”

Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, and Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden will have camera systems installed in their NICUs by the end of the year.

The camera sits above the baby in their bed, and caregivers can move the camera depending on what the baby is doing. Families can access the live-stream video on any tablet or phone. Parents also decide who else can have access.

“This is another way we’re using the power of technology and innovation to improve the quality of care and experiences for families receiving care at our hospitals,” said Dr. McCully.

The new cameras were made possible through funding from the hospital and donations from the public.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.