Anmed Adds eICU

Patients in AnMed Health’s intensive care unit now have access to an extra layer of care with the addition of an eICU. 

Using the power of telemedicine, intensive care patients can be monitored remotely by board-certified intensivists and critical care nurses at Advanced ICU Care in St. Louis. An eICU does not replace the need for highly-skilled, onsite clinicians, and patients’ care is still directed by their local doctor. What the service can provide is a set of expert eyes to follow patients’ progress around the clock. 

Clinical decisions in the ICU are often based on a continuous stream of data, from physiologic data and laboratory results to vital signs and medications. With an eICU, this data is communicated electronically in real time to both bedside caregivers and the eICU Monitoring Center. Cameras and videoconferencing equipment allow the eICU staff to see and communicate directly with patients, families and onsite clinicians. The system also provides automated alerts, which identify potential patient problems earlier and allow physicians to intervene sooner.

In studies, eICUs have been shown to improve outcomes and reduce patients’ lengths of stay. One 10-bed ICU in an academic-affiliated community hospital saw on average a 30 percent decrease in severity adjusted hospital mortality and a 47 percent decrease in ICU complications. Patients’ lengths of stay also decreased by 32 percent.

“The eICU is a great way to supplement the already outstanding care provided in our intensive care unit,” said Dr. Mike Tillirson, AnMed Health’s chief medical officer. “Doctors and nurses in the eICU Monitoring Center are specially trained in critical care and have decades of experience. Adding their expertise to our compassionate and award-winning team is a great example of what it means to ‘blend the art of caring with the science of medicine to optimize the health of our patients.’”

The communication system – which includes a camera, microphone and speaker – is only active when requested by the bedside nurse or during prescribed “virtual rounds.” When activated, the camera moves from pointing at the wall to pointing at the patient’s bed and an audio signal alerts any nurses who may be in the patient’s room. There is no video or audio recording capability, and patient privacy is respected during virtual rounds.

To learn more about Advanced ICU Care, go online to www.icumedicine.com