NICU Camera Systems – live streaming vs recorded video updates

     

Keeping families connected: are live streaming NICU camera systems the best option?

When a baby is admitted to intensive care, the experience is often marked by uncertainty and fear, taking a deeply emotional toll on families. This is exacerbated by the unnatural separation, when parents can’t always be on the unit. Keeping families connected and supporting parents during this difficult time is a tough but vital part of neonatal care. Some units are considering NICU camera systems, with the promise of easy reassurance through 24/7 live streaming.

However, while live footage offers one kind of virtual connection, considering the substantial upfront and ongoing costs, is a camera system solution the best option for your unit?

Neonatal care teams shoulder a huge amount of operational and emotional pressure

Having a baby admitted to intensive care turns a family’s world upside down. Suddenly thrust into an intense and uncertain world of incubators and alarms, parents often feel stressed, anxious and helpless, while dealing with the ache of being separated from their baby.

Neonatal care teams work tirelessly around the clock, providing lifesaving care in these high-stakes, emotionally intense environments. They are also expected to delicately balance clinical work with helping families navigate this challenging time, by providing regular updates and reassurance.

With supporting bonding despite separation being shown to have a positive impact on baby’s development, many hospitals are exploring more modern ways to support family engagement.

Family engagement solutions: live streaming for 24/7 monitoring

Some units are opting to install live streaming NICU camera systems, with their promise of providing regular, easy reassurance for parents, by allowing them to watch real-time footage of their baby on the unit, at any time of day.

Some studies show that this can support bonding while also empowering families, as 24/7 access to live footage helps them feel more involved in their baby’s care and able to check in on what is happening on the unit whenever they like.

However, several studies have also identified concerns about live streaming technology in neonatal care (Hawkes et al., 2015; Joshi et al., 2016; Rhodes et al., 2012).

While video footage can promote feelings of proximity and reassurance, the live streaming aspect can actually increase anxiety and adds operational challenges for clinical teams. A more thoughtful, flexible approach, such as recorded video updates, could better meet the needs of families and clinical teams.

The limitations of live streaming NICU camera systems

Technical and infrastructure challenges

- Requires specialist hardware that is expensive to install and maintain: Live streaming camera systems require specialist hardware, such as cot-mounted cameras, which are costly and require ongoing maintenance.

- Dependent on high-speed, reliable internet: High-speed and stable internet connections are essential for uninterrupted streaming. Any disruptions can lead to loss of connection, causing distress to parents who rely on the feed for reassurance.

- Cameras need to be fixed to cots: Cameras must be fixed at the cot side, limiting their ability to capture different angles or be moved easily. This can be restrictive during certain procedures, while some units do not even have the means to attach camera to the sides of their cots.

- Data protection and privacy concerns: Parents have raised concerns about data being compromised when Wi-Fi and external networks are used.

Clinical and operational burden

- Stress on staff as they feel under surveillance: Healthcare professionals have expressed feelings of stress from being constantly watched, leading to increased pressure and concerns about being judged by families.

- Increased calls from concerned parents: Staff often deal with an increase in calls from concerns about things seen on the camera, such as the infant crying or laying in an unusual position.

- Disruption to workflows: A significant amount of time is spent manipulating cameras, switching them on and off for various tasks, disrupting workflows and adding additional tasks.

- Fear of scrutiny leading the less natural interactions: The worry of being judged can lead staff to modify their natural interactions, potentially impacting the authenticity of care provided.

Psychological and emotional impact on families 

- Increased anxiety from compulsive viewing: The constant availability of the livestream lead some parents to feel compelled to watch continuously, potentially increasing anxiety levels.

- 25% of parents report increased stress: Parents have reported heightened stress when witnessing their baby in discomfort, especially during interventions without any context, as well as feelings of helplessness.

- Distress from technical failures: Unexpected interruptions or the camera being turned off without prior notice can cause significant distress, as parents may fear something adverse has occurred.

No meaningful updates or record keeping

- No way of capturing special moments: Continuous live streaming means meaningful moments can be missed

- Lack of context: Real-time footage without context can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations by families

- Lost meaningful memories: No way for families to download and keep videos of meaningful memories

Families need more than just footage, they need reassurance, context and connection

Parents need to feel connected to their baby, even while they can’t be present in the unit. They want to feel involved in their baby’s care and receive regular reassurance during this uncertain time. But they need to be able to do this in a way that doesn’t exacerbate existing anxiety and stress.

Alternatively, a dedicated NICU video messaging platform can offer many of the benefits of live streaming, without the associated downsides of 24/7 surveillance. NICU staff can easily and safely share recorded videos with parents, in a controlled and meaningful way.

Recorded videos can provide:

- Meaningful updates in a controlled way: Selected video clips capturing meaningful moments that support connection and reassurance, while strengthening relationships between staff and families

- Less costly and intrusive way of providing updates: Capture and share video updates from existing unit devices, with no extra hardware required

- Flexibility and equitability: Videos can be captured of any baby no matter the cot mounting limitations or if they need to be moved, while also providing more options for families that aren’t able to easily log in and watch live streams in their routine

- Easier to protect privacy and clinical workflow: Capturing videos and photos at appropriate moments is easier to manage safely and can be shared through secure means to protect data

- Creates keepsakes: Parents can save and rewatch video updates — creating treasured memories, not just fleeting moments.

Curated video updates for connection and reassurance

Expensive, intrusive and impersonal, live streaming camera systems don’t always support the realities of Family Integrated Care.

vCreate NICU Diaries is a video management platform designed to bridge the gap between home and the neonatal unit, to empower families to take an active role in day-to-day caregiving.

Available on existing unit devices and in multiple languages, neonatal teams can safely and securely provide updates and comfort for families, without adding to their workload.

Rather than creating pressure and stress, families can regularly view meaningful and reassuring videos of their baby, share content with wider family and friends and download videos and photos to keep forever.

vCreate is already helping hundreds of NICU teams to strengthen family relationships, boost staff morale and enhance patient care.

Humanising care, without compromising it

While live streaming NICU camera systems offer several benefits in a seemingly simple way, it is worth considering the costs and psychological and operational challenges. Recorded video takes into account the emotional and practical realities of NICU life, providing families with valuable updates that reassures, builds trust and uplifts families during this difficult time, no matter their circumstances.

Interested in learning more about recorded video for NICU teams? Book a demo or Read more

References:

Parents' and healthcare professionals' perceptions of the use of live video recording in neonatal units: a focus group study. 2020.
Le Bris, A et al. BMC Pediatrics

Web Camera Use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 2009.
Lindberg, B et al. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare

Webcam use in German neonatological intensive care units: an interview study on parental expectations and experiences. 2021.
Reimer, A et al. BMC Health Services Research

Implementation of a Web Camera System in an Australian Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Pre- and Post evaluation of the Parent and Staff Experience. 2023.
Legge, A.A. et al. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting

Parental views of live streaming technology on a tertiary neonatal unit: a prospective survey-based study. 2024.
Baker, S et al. Early Human Development