vCREATE

We are proud to be able to offer vCreate in the paediatric critical care unit.

Dr Lindsay Ford, Consultant Paediatric Intensivist at RHSC PICU and her team have worked hard to get this much needed service in the unit.

vCreate is a free secure video messaging service that allows clinical staff to record and send video updates to parents. Parents are able to access videos of their child when they are away from the unit to receive reassurance of their child’s wellbeing, and to try and reduce any separation anxiety. It is safe, secure and available on any device. When a child is admitted to the paediatric critical care unit, parents are given an information leaflet with details about this service.

It is an NHS trusted service. The secure video messaging service is controlled by unit staff at all times. It supports family integrated care – siblings, grandparents and extended family can become more involved.

Unit staff record short video updates for the child's parents to watch while they are away from the unit. The videos are safely secured on the vcreate platform. Parents register for an account which is then approved by the unit staff. Once approved, unit staff assign videos to the appropriate parent account.

Parents login to watch their child’s videos at any time, and are alerted by email when new videos are available. A secure video diary builds up over time, which parents can access any time of day or night, on any device.

Unit staff record videos (and photos) when they have time, not at a prescribed rate. The videos will not contain any sensitive clinical information.

There is also a one-way messaging feature, which allows the unit to send quick updates to parents.

If a child is transferred to a new unit, the account and videos move with them. When the child leaves the unit, parents are able to download their child’s videos to keep. At this point, the unit delete the videos and remove the account for Data Protection purposes.

Our unit champions are Jane Richardson, Jen Cruickshanks, and Sarah Martin. They will all be happy to help with any questions!

If you want further information, you can visit the website below to see a demonstration of the service in action, and read about how this has benefited families, parents and the staff in the intensive care units.