Digital Footprints: New Device Records Babies’ Unique Feet
V1 Staff |
Just like fingerprints, a baby’s footprints are unique. Now there’s a new way to capture the shapes on those tiny toesies – not with ink and paper, but with digital technology. Mayo Clinic Health System recently installed a new infant safety system at its birth centers in Eau Claire, Menomonie, and Barron. The system allows the hospitals to capture high-resolution newborn footprints that can be used for precise identification in situations such as an abduction or a lost baby. The footprint scans can be stored in babies’ electronic health records, and they can be used to identify them throughout their lifetimes.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommended the system in its most recent infant security guidelines. Each new mom receives a certificate of her newborn’s footprint during her stay. She also can download a digital copy of the footprint and create customized certificates from home. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this infant safety system for new mothers,” says Patty Bosse, a Mayo Clinic Health System nurse administrator. “This will enhance the safety of newborns and provide a treasured keepsake to mark the momentous occasion of a baby’s birth.”