thedrifter
07-20-08, 01:09 PM
Beaufort Hospital is ready for the next video-streamed birth
Published Sun, Jul 20, 2008 12:00 AM
By ALEXIS GARROBO
agarrobo@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5539
Capt. Colin Bailey's story isn't uncommon for many of the Marines based in Beaufort County.
When deployed to Afghanistan in March from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, his wife, Megan Bailey, was in the midst of her first pregnancy. The couple's first child -- a son -- was due in June.
Without a ride home to the states, Bailey, attached to an Army unit in Afghanistan, thought the only way to see his son's birth would be through a live Internet feed set up by Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
"While it worked out for us, I think (having the groundwork laid for video streaming of the birth) is very beneficial to the area," Megan Bailey said. "There are so many military spouses that have babies in Beaufort and sometimes they don't get to see the babies until they return home."A few weeks before Jackson Forrest Bailey's June 23 birth, the Army told Capt. Bailey it would pay for his way home for a week. And even though the hospital didn't have to use the technology in the Baileys' case, officials say they now have the infrastructure to provide services to other military families.
"We didn't even think about it before (Megan) contacted us," said Brandon Stroupe, the network manager at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. The Baileys looked into the Freedom Calls Foundation, a nonprofit that provides live video feeds for deployed troops, but were told the services weren't offered in Afghanistan because the bandwidths weren't compatible. Megan contacted Beaufort Memorial Hospital in January looking for an alternative and began working with the information services department to see if the same could be done through the hospital.
Stroupe set up a program in the hospital that would stream video of the birth live to Colin in Afghanistan. Stroupe said the hospital used Skype, software that provides free video streaming and is often used by military families to communicate. The program required a few tests to make sure everything was visible.
Because the hospital has done the preliminary research, purchased a Web cam for delivery and done most of the set up, it will be easier when the next request comes along, said spokeswoman Nora Kresch. Stroupe said he would need to contact the deployed spouse, conduct some test runs and get proper military authorization because deployed spouses may need to use work computers or take time from work to view the birth.
"That's going to be the biggest difficulty: being able to schedule the testing and making sure we can get contact when the birth begins," he said.
The next birth to be streamed overseas has been scheduled for Aug. 7 through Freedom Calls to Iraq, Kresch said.
"Anytime that you are able to be a part of home while you are deployed, it's outstanding and it definitely boosts morale," said Cpl. John Jackson, spokesman for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. "Something like (live video feeds of birth) would obviously be great for deployed Marines."
From left Capt. Colin Bailey, Jackson Bailey and Megan Bailey
Ellie
Published Sun, Jul 20, 2008 12:00 AM
By ALEXIS GARROBO
agarrobo@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5539
Capt. Colin Bailey's story isn't uncommon for many of the Marines based in Beaufort County.
When deployed to Afghanistan in March from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, his wife, Megan Bailey, was in the midst of her first pregnancy. The couple's first child -- a son -- was due in June.
Without a ride home to the states, Bailey, attached to an Army unit in Afghanistan, thought the only way to see his son's birth would be through a live Internet feed set up by Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
"While it worked out for us, I think (having the groundwork laid for video streaming of the birth) is very beneficial to the area," Megan Bailey said. "There are so many military spouses that have babies in Beaufort and sometimes they don't get to see the babies until they return home."A few weeks before Jackson Forrest Bailey's June 23 birth, the Army told Capt. Bailey it would pay for his way home for a week. And even though the hospital didn't have to use the technology in the Baileys' case, officials say they now have the infrastructure to provide services to other military families.
"We didn't even think about it before (Megan) contacted us," said Brandon Stroupe, the network manager at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. The Baileys looked into the Freedom Calls Foundation, a nonprofit that provides live video feeds for deployed troops, but were told the services weren't offered in Afghanistan because the bandwidths weren't compatible. Megan contacted Beaufort Memorial Hospital in January looking for an alternative and began working with the information services department to see if the same could be done through the hospital.
Stroupe set up a program in the hospital that would stream video of the birth live to Colin in Afghanistan. Stroupe said the hospital used Skype, software that provides free video streaming and is often used by military families to communicate. The program required a few tests to make sure everything was visible.
Because the hospital has done the preliminary research, purchased a Web cam for delivery and done most of the set up, it will be easier when the next request comes along, said spokeswoman Nora Kresch. Stroupe said he would need to contact the deployed spouse, conduct some test runs and get proper military authorization because deployed spouses may need to use work computers or take time from work to view the birth.
"That's going to be the biggest difficulty: being able to schedule the testing and making sure we can get contact when the birth begins," he said.
The next birth to be streamed overseas has been scheduled for Aug. 7 through Freedom Calls to Iraq, Kresch said.
"Anytime that you are able to be a part of home while you are deployed, it's outstanding and it definitely boosts morale," said Cpl. John Jackson, spokesman for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. "Something like (live video feeds of birth) would obviously be great for deployed Marines."
From left Capt. Colin Bailey, Jackson Bailey and Megan Bailey
Ellie