Select Page

Virtual Family Project

Virtually Connecting Families with Loved Ones In Hospital. Free. Simple.

Donate


More donation options!

The Mission

Our mission is to offer a free and simple way for patients to connect with their loved ones virtually by providing access to devices and assistance in using the device while hospitalized.

The Project

The Virtual Family Project is dedicated to supporting patients by providing familial connection on virtual platforms. The visceral need for human connection has not waned, but necessary restrictions on visitors due to COVID-19 leave many patients isolated and longing for their loved ones. After recognizing this newly emerging issue, Tyler Deane created this website and organized a group of interested students to raise money to ameliorate the situation in healthcare.

Our goal is to raise money that will be fully directed towards purchasing and maintaining easily accessible iPads on mobile stands, enabling patients to virtually interact with their family members.
N

Family Connections

The goal of the Virtual Family Project is to offer patients a way to maintain contact with their loved ones throughout their hospital stay. We want to make sure patients stay connected with their families to avoid loneliness and promote a quick return to health.
N

Moving Forward

With COVID-19 on the rise, patients deserve the comfort of connection more than ever. We believe our implementation of iPads is pivotal to patients’ recovery and mental well-being.
N

Commitment to Healthcare

Through the use of iPad stands, we are growing the accessibility of remote healthcare, and increasing the reliability of continued care for patients who have left the hospital to prevent the need for further visits and lower the chance of disease transmission at healthcare centers.

Help Us Keep Families Connected!

Our funding comes completely through donations from generous individuals and the Intermountain Foundation. Please help us by donating and spreading the word of the Virtual Family Project. Every penny counts! For large, tax deductible donations, please click the donate button to the right, and be sure to take the drop down menu that says “Virtual Family Project.”

Donate

Our Goal is 100 Donors!

Every penny counts! As a group of high school students, if we are each able to get 15 peers to donate $10, we will have raised enough money to pay for a Virtual Family Member. Please visit our PayPal or Venmo to donate.

Support The Virtual Family Project

Apple iPads

With financial support from Apple, Inc.
$300
  • Patients can use various video chat apps
  • Healthcare professionals will assist in use
  • Portable enough to be transpoted around the facility
  • Large enough that patients can see it from their beds
Donate

Otterbox Case

Protective Case for iPad
$50
  • Prevents excessive wear and tear
  • Lessens long term costs by decreasing risk of breaking iPads
  • Can be cleaned easily to prevent patient to patient transmission of disease
  • Impact resistant in case of a fall
Donate

Rolling Stand

Medical grade rolling stands for iPad
$650
  • Ideal way to transport iPads between rooms and facilities
  • Durable and functional
  • Easy to position at patients’ bedsides
  • Adjustable to patients’ desired heights to allow them to be positioned in the camera
Donate

Price of one Virtual Family Member

Your donations add up to make a big difference!

Price of one Virtual Family Member

Your donations add up to make a big difference!

Price of one Virtual Family Member

Your donations add up to make a big difference!

Our Donor Goal 100

$
Our Donation Goal
$10,000
$
The Intermountain Foundation’s Goal
$250,000

Meet Our Team

Our team is comprised of five high school seniors from Utah led by Tyler Deane. The project was sparked when an emergency room physician reached out to Tyler and explained that with new restrictions on visiting in hospitals and emergency rooms, patients had little to no access to their loved ones during treatment. Tyler created a team of interested students to raise money to solve the ongoing lack of community caused by COVID-19. The project is quickly growing to promote the use of these iPads to help patients through all steps of their healthcare journey.

Please contact us with any questions at virtualfamilyproject@gmail.com

Tyler Deane
Head of Project

I am Tyler Deane, a high school senior from Salt Lake City, and I am proud to be the head of the Virtual Family Project. Through my work on the VFP, I share my passion for helping the greater good by improving patient care. Knowing that our project is improving hospitalization experiences for patients and medical staff, fuels my drive to spread the word about our life changing project.

Ulla-Britt Libre
Team Member

My name is Ulla-Britt Libre. I am a senior at Waterford School. Both my parents are physicians and seeing the hardships they experience with struggling to communicate with patients families has inspired me to take action in this issue. I enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, and rowing in my free time.

Eeshan Chowdhary

Team Member

My name is Eeshan Chowdhary, I am 17 years old, and am going to be a senior in high school next year. I enjoy rowing, I am in a band, and am passionate about helping people. This project is well worth the time and effort that we have spent, as it helps us strengthen our bonds and connections with others which in my mind is the most important thing to preserve in this time of uncertainty.

Abia Fazili

Team Member

I’m Abia Fazili, a student at Waterford School. I love playing and listening to music and reading. I am passionate about working to better our communities and am interested in the healthcare field, so being a part of this project is very important to me. I am excited to be working to connect patients with their families, an experience every patient deserves.

Barr Dolan

Team Member

I’m Barr Dolan, a rising senior at the Waterford school who loves playing soccer and skiing. I am also passionate about science and I always try find a way to help people in need how ever I can. This project is very important to me because I value my bonds with others highly. Through this project we help others preserve those bonds and I am excited to be a part of it. 

Neve Rauscher

Blog Author

Hi, my name is Neve and I’m a junior in high school. I love skiing, biking, hiking, and dancing. I’m passionate about working with this project because I think it’s incredibly important for families to be able to stay in touch, especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Carolyn Anctil, MD FACEP

Emergency Physician and Project Developer
I’ve worked in Intermoutain Health Cares Emergency Departments for 24 years.
Patient, family and physician connections have been significantly impacted by visitor restrictions.
Face-Timing has enabled me to virtually meet patient’s families, hear their concerns and introduce them to the rest of their healthcare team.
Patients’ care, safety and satisfaction is greatly improved when we can see and speak with patients’ loved ones.
Carolyn Anctil, MD FACEP
Emergency Physician and Project Developer
I’ve worked in Intermoutain Health Cares Emergency Departments for 24 years.
Patient, family and physician connections have been significantly impacted by visitor restrictions.
Face-Timing has enabled me to virtually meet patient’s families, hear their concerns and introduce them to the rest of their healthcare team.
Patients’ care, safety and satisfaction is greatly improved when we can see and speak with patients’ loved ones.