Rita and João are newborn twins, currently hospitalised in the intermediate care unit of the Júlio Dinis Maternity of the Porto Healthcare Centre. Their mother follows them each day at the maternity, as their father, due to professional duties, has to follow them from the city of Covilhã. With technology put at the service of humanisation, Luís Pires can now see his children every day, anytime anyplace, thanks to the BabyCare service, developed by Portugal Telecom, a pioneer service worldwide. Therefore, he just needs an Internet connection and an access password to be able to see his children.
This service, subsidised by the PT Foundation, is now available at the Júlio Dinis Maternity where 10 video cameras in 10 incubators will be installed until the end of 2009, connected to a video IP service. 10 families will thus be able to follow their babies remotely each day.
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Turrion Leite,
responsible for the
development of
Baby Care service |
“It is a different way of keeping them close”, explains the latest user of this service, Luís Pires. PT’s Turrion Leite, who was responsible for the development of this solution, recollects the significant impact of the service kick-off at Alfredo da Costa Maternity in Lisbon. BabyCare service arrives in Porto nine years later. Its installations will soon be announced in other healthcare units, says Mr. Turrion Leite.
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| Óscar Vieira, Deputy Director of the PT Foundation, Ana Jorge, Health Minister, and Pedro Esteves, chairman of the Porto Healthcare Centre |
During the signature of the protocol between the PT Foundation and the Porto Healthcare Centre, its chairman, Pedro Esteves, firstly thanked the PT Foundation and highlighted the fact that this is a good example of how technology can be put at the service of humanisation, reinforcing the policy of focus on patients promoted by this healthcare unit. Clara Cidade, head of Info-Exclusion and Special Needs of the PT Foundation, demonstrated the service highlighting the importance of the mission of the PT Foundation in the support for this kind of projects.
Óscar Vieira, Deputy Director of the PT Foundation also stressed that this is a fundamental means through which PT expresses its commitment to Social Responsibility. According to Mr. Vieira, in the future there will be more projects of this nature promoted in coordination with Health Authorities.
According to Ana Jorge, Health Minister, the PT Foundation is an example for Portugal for its intervention in humanisation through communications, and in the promotion of quality of life in society, especially of citizens with special needs.