Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hospital Bring Calming Marine Environment to Patients

New technology makes aquarium viewing a reality in the hospital emergency waiting room.

Divers in Oregon Coast Aquarium Photo courtesy: Cindy Hanson/Oregon Coast Aquarium

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - In a collaborative effort between the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital (SPCH), a video camera has been installed in the Passages of the Deep exhibit and will soon feed live images to the hospital’s emergency department waiting area.

The camera uses new technology to produce real-time video images using an embedded Mpeg4 encoder.

SPCH had been considering installing an aquarium as part of plans to remodel and enlarge its emergency department, but the costs of operation and maintenance were a concern.

Aquariums are known to have a calming effect on people, which is important in an emergency waiting room of a hospital, where people may be in crisis.

“We actually have compelling scientific evidence that a ‘natural environment,’ whether it is a view of a garden or, in this case, a beautiful underwater scene, actually helps patients stay calm as they deal with the stress of being in a hospital. Fish aquariums have proven relaxation effects on people who are in stressful waiting situations, whereas televisions have been proven to have the opposite effect. This collaboration with the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport will be wonderful for our patients. The virtual aquarium is a perfect solution for us,” said Melissa Swancutt, Vice President and Director of Nursing Services at SPCH.

Aquarium President Dale Schmidt agreed, saying, "This is a great opportunity for us to help our community by providing a beautiful aquarium scene in our hospital. Nature is a great stress reliever and we hope people will experience a moment of calm during stressful situations as they view the live aquarium feed. SPCH is a special partner and we and we are pleased to assist their patients by providing this exciting technology."

Originally developed for manta ray research, the camera system is now available for other applications. The underwater camera is the first that can be controlled over the Internet from anywhere in the world. The IP camera and underwater housing have been specially designed for depths of up to 30 feet deep and 300 feet away from an Internet connection.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational attraction dedicated to the highest quality aquatic and marine science programs for recreation and education so the public better understands, cherishes, and conserves the world’s natural marine and coastal resources. For more information, visit the Aquarium’s Web site at aquarium.org or call (541) 867-FISH.