For Immediate Release: November 6, 2009

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464, ext. 44306 brian.reardon@st-johns.org

St. John’s Hospital offers virtual visitation during flu season

Kaleb Helwig and his two-year-old daughter Kinley

SPRINGFIELD – With visitor restrictions in place for those under the age of 18 or who are exhibiting flu symptoms, St. John’s Hospital is offering the opportunity to visit with a loved one receiving care in St. John’s Children’s Hospital and Birth Center via the Internet. 

Due to the outbreak of H1N1, St. John’s is limiting visitor access to the Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children’s Center to adults 18 and older who do not have flu symptoms.  Virtual visitation allows for those under 18 and those with the flu to see and hear their loved one who is a patient in the Carol Jo Vecchie Center.

“We recognize that the birth of a new sibling is an important milestone for a child or teenager.  Because of the new precautions we put in place to protect our patients from exposure to the H1N1 virus, we felt it was important to give families the option of visiting new moms through Internet video,” said Stephanie Lake, manager, St. John’s Birth Center. 

Those wishing to connect with a loved one who is a patient in either the Birth Center or the Pediatrics floor of the Children’s Hospital can call ahead of time to get the process set up.  Visitors should simply call 217-544-6464 and press zero to be connected with the hospital operator, who in turn will connect them with the appropriate charge nurse on duty.

St. John’s Information Technology department is providing patients with computers that are equipped with web cameras. Connections can be made for visits from home or from the Carol Jo Vecchie Center lobby.  For a virtual visit from home, the patient’s family must have a web camera to be able to have a two-way web connection.  If a family does not have a web camera, the family could still see the patient on the web and communicate audibly via the phone.  Connections are made via email accounts using services such as Skype or Yahoo.  Visitors should indicate which web camera service they would like to use if they are making the virtual visit from home. 

Kaleb Helwig and his two year old daughter Kinley were the first visitors to take advantage of virtual visitation in the lobby of the Carol Jo Vecchie Center.  “It worked great considering Kinley was restless about not being able to join my wife during her doctor’s appointment.  By using this, we were able to support (my wife) Jody emotionally,” said Kaleb Helwig.