Saying last goodbyes | from an Intensive Care Unit in Detroit, USA

Families were unable to visit their relatives to say a last goodbye due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus to others or becoming infected themselves.

Using telehealth and virtual meetings is becoming normal. Staff asked themselves why not ‘bridge’ the physical distance between people by bringing telecommunications into the Intensive Care Unit?

So they set up a tablet computer on a wheeled workstation so patients can have video chats with their families. This allows COVID-19 patients to keep in touch with their families without relying on nurses to hold phones. Using a freestanding workstation makes better use of nurses’ time especially when they have heavy workloads.

This creative solution has helped families have a connection with their relative whilst keeping everyone safe.

Source:
The New England Journal of Medicine, April 2020.