Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital has installed technology that offers virtual trips to attractions like Millennium Park, the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry, according to an article on The Chicago Tribune website.
About 40 kids took part in a virtual visit to Christkindlmarket in December, for instance, and the tours will continue monthly at other attractions, according to the article.
Viewers looked on as a guide toured the market, streaming video. Children — who watched in a common area or from their rooms — can use a call-in line to ask questions or request the guide to go to certain areas.
It can be tough for some families of patients at Lurie to get out and explore the city, the hospital’s director of Children’s Services, Susan Ruohonen, said in the article.
“We want to bring the outside in to our families as much as possible,” she said. “This has been a great way to do that.”