Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Penn Medicine has been at the forefront of research into innovative and safe ways to bring the best care to our patients and their communities. Pennsylvania Hospital's Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) is no exception. Our nurses and doctors are working around the clock to care for our babies during these unique times. In addition, we here at Pennsylvania Hospital are leaders in developing national perinatal COVID-19 guidance, and we are conducting research to understand the impact of this novel infection on pregnant women and their newborns.

Shelter-in-place directives, social distancing, limited public transportation, and job loss as a result of the pandemic have added to the many stresses of having a baby who requires intensive care. Penn Medicine-wide efforts to protect patients, families and staff have necessitated limits on parent presence in the ICN. Thus, the current crisis highlights the critical importance of an item from our funding wish list.

Recently, we have sought to utilize new technologies that allow parents virtual access to the ICN. The Angel Eye Camera System uses secure, web-based methods to allow families to see and hear their infants when they cannot be physically present with them. Through donations from friends of Pennsylvania Hospital we hope to purchase and install this system at all of our 50 bed spaces. Your donation will help provide the gift of virtual contact that can keep babies and their families together while apart.