The pandemic imposed many neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) restrictions on families. Families found themselves treated as visitors again, instead of an integral part of the healthcare team. Use of virtual platforms such as Facetime and Zoom to connect health professionals and babies with their families became the normal mode of communication. The pandemic also taught us that this platform was a means to teach families how to care for their babies so that they were better prepared to provide care at home. Now as we ease out of the pandemic, use of these platforms may change but they are now a part the NICU's fabric.

Many hospitals have been using technology to keep distant family members connected with their loved ones well before the pandemic. NICUs used bedside webcams to give families the opportunities to watch their babies. If the camera was turned off, families became anxious. However, as the pandemic progressed and hospital restrictions increased, families and staff turned to use of more and more platforms including text messaging to keep families apprised of their babies' conditions.1 Digital modalities engage other family members-siblings, grandparents, and friends-who might never be able to see the baby while in the NICU.1 Ranu's team1 found that families could not only learn about their baby's behaviors but also experience their own parental role even when physically separated. Some mothers pumped their breasts while viewing their baby, thus contributing to a positive experience.1 Virtual rounds were accessible to families and helped keep them up to date with the treatment plans.1 Some institutions have considered continuing the virtual family connections once the baby is discharged.

Lebel and colleagues2 conducted a qualitative study examining how parents and neonatal nurses felt about use of a digital platform to meet parental educational needs. They found that families liked just-in-time access to materials but disliked too text-heavy content. Campbell-Yeo and colleagues3 developed clinical virtual care pathways to support families during the COVID-19 pandemic. These pathways focused on connecting families with healthcare professionals, providing linkages to resources to support families, and message standardization. All 3 of these pathways were cocreated with input from parents of former NICU babies.3 Creating such pathways affords families and staff to have more consistent information and care. As this research team acknowledged, the implementation of such strategies during the pandemic has been difficult as policies rapidly changed with COVID-19 changes.3 Even now as the pandemic subsides, policies are still changing and many restrictions are still in place.

So, what does the future hold? Will we move away from technology/video chats/video rounds? Doubtful. With the projected increase in digital platform use in health, there are some considerations and safeguards that need to be in place. Thoughtful considerations should be given to the family's privacy. Some home situations may not be conducive to 2-way video views. Some families may not have access to video or telemedicine capabilities, so equality of services must be considered. Translation services may be necessary for some families.1 Staff support is necessary to make these communication vehicles work. They may have concerns about how technology use impacts workload and their ability to provide care.1 Policies around digital platform use are needed to ensure the rights of families and staff are upheld. User training is needed to increase the comfort level with the technology. In the future, technology may provide a vehicle for global connections. Family members are now spread out throughout the world. Linking family members say in Australia or Ghana with families/babies in the United States will not only be possible but also advocated for as part of infant- and family-centered developmental care (IFCDC). The possibilities are endless, yet it has taken a pandemic to really put this tool at the forefront of neonatal care. Let's embrace technology so that we can engage our families!

-Carole Kenner, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP, ANEF

The College of New Jersey

Ewing, New Jersey

Chief Executive Officer

Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc (COINN)

Yardley, Pennsylvania

-Marina Boykova, PhD, RN

Associate Professor

School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Holy Family University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Non-Executive Board Member

Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc (COINN)

Yardley, Pennsylvania

References