Intensivist physicians and eICU® Care Model
Remote electronic monitoring improves patient outcomes
The patented eICU® care model is an innovative way to add an extra layer of care for the sickest of critical care patients in the hospital setting. While these patients are prone to developing life-threatening complications, the eICU program saves lives, reduces complications and reduces the length of hospital stays.
Severely ill patients can develop complications rapidly. While the bedside staff provides hands-on care, the eICU staff provides special 24-hour continuous monitoring and management of patients by identifying early warning signs of declining health. By working with the bedside critical-care team and attending physician to prioritize and guide interventions, complications can be reduced.
Parkview Health uses eICU care technology to remotely monitor patients in 21 critical- are beds within six facilities, including:
- Parkview Huntington Hospital
- Parkview LaGrange Hospital
- Parkview Hospital Randallia
- Parkview Regional Medical Center (opening March 17, 2012)
- Parkview Noble Hospital
- Parkview Whitley Hospital
- Dekalb Health
Members of the eICU team include intensivist physicians and nurses who specialize in critical care. An intensivist is a physician who specializes in critical care care provided to seriously ill patients from point of injury or illness until discharge from the unit. Rather than replacing the bedside care team, the eICU staff add an extra layer of patient care. Parkview’s eICU technology was developed by Philips/VISICU, a Baltimore-based company. It enables the Parkview care team to electronically monitor 21 critical-care beds throughout northeast Indiana from one central location.
Advantages of the eICU technology
In-room video monitors, videoconferencing, and computer technology allow the bedside nurses and physicians and remotely-located eICU nurses and physicians to work as a team in caring for each critical-care patient. This technology enhances patient care through:
- Better patient outcomes resulting from unparalleled care coordination
- Continous monitoring of vital signs
- “Virtual” rounding by multidisciplinary specialists
- Opportunities for eICU team to visually access a patient during an emergency
Faster response time in critical patient situations
Multidisciplinary rounding for coordinated care
With the bedside hospital staff and remote site staff working together to provide the best outcomes, multidisciplinary rounding helps the combined team better coordinate care for each patient. Rounding is done to help the team formulate each patient’s care plan and procedure priorities for that day. Team suggestions are made during this time and available for physician review throughout the day.
Every day, the critical-care registered nurse assigned to the patient submits a report on the patient’s condition to the group. A multidisciplinary rounding team may include the intensivist, other physicians, charge nurse, bedside nurse, case manager, respiratory therapist, rehab therapist, dietitian and pharmacist.
eICU® is a registered trademark of VISICU, Inc.