What is a 3D virtual tour?  

A 3D virtual tour is a digital recreation of a real-world space, allowing you to explore it from your computer, smartphone, or VR headset as if you were physically there. It’s much more immersive than a simple video or a slideshow of photos.

Think of it as a virtual walk-through. You can navigate from room to room, look up, down, and all around in a full 360-degree view. The tours also have “hotspots” or interactive elements that you can click on to get more information; see our short video sample below.

What are the benefits to a family on a neonatal unit?  

Reduces Anxiety and Stress: A virtual tour allows parents to familiarize themselves with the unit’s layout, equipment, and environment before their baby’s arrival or during a stressful time. This can significantly reduce the fear of the unknown.

Accessible from Anywhere, Anytime: Families can access the tour from the comfort of their homes, a waiting room, or anywhere with an internet connection. This is particularly helpful for parents who may be unable to visit the unit in person due to travel constraints or other health concerns.

Provides a Realistic Experience: A 3D tour offers a more immersive and realistic view than static photos or a video. Parents can virtually navigate the space at their own pace, getting a true sense of the scale and layout of the rooms, including the cots, incubators, and monitoring equipment.

Involves the Entire Family: The tour can be shared with siblings, grandparents, and other family members who may not be permitted to visit the unit in person. This helps to include the wider family in the journey and allows them to feel more connected.

Prepares Them for What to Expect: The tour can highlight important features and procedures, such as hand-washing stations, privacy curtains, and parent-care areas. This helps to set expectations and allows families to mentally prepare for their time in the unit.

See the sample of a virtual tour

What are the benefits for new neonatal staff?

Comprehensive Orientation Tool: A virtual tour serves as an excellent training resource for new nurses, doctors, and support staff. It provides a detailed, self-guided tour of the unit’s layout, helping them to quickly learn where key resources, such as emergency equipment, medication rooms, and supply closets, are located.

Boosts Confidence and Reduces Onboarding Time: By allowing new staff to explore the unit virtually, they can become familiar with their surroundings before their first day. This can reduce initial anxiety and help them feel more confident and competent when they begin working on-site, leading to a faster and smoother onboarding process.

Facilitates Remote Training: For new hires who are relocating or who need to complete training before their official start date, a virtual tour is an invaluable tool for remote orientation, ensuring they are well-prepared even if they can’t visit the physical location.

Highlights Important Safety Features: The tour can be designed to highlight safety protocols and features, such as fire exits, sterile zones, and call bell locations. This ensures new staff are aware of critical safety information from the beginning.

Enhances Interdepartmental Collaboration: The tour can be shared with staff from other departments, such as maternity or pediatrics, who may need to understand the neonatal unit’s layout for patient handovers or consultations. This can improve communication and collaboration between different teams.