Alaska Telemedicine Program Off and Running

Providence Alaska Medical Center has implemented a new program to enhance care of the critically ill in remote communities of Alaska. The eICU Program, patented by Philips VISICU, combines early warning alerts and remote monitoring technology to connect off-site critical care specialists to ICU patients and their care teams within the medical center. Providence plans to offer the program to surrounding hospitals, as a supplement to local care, in order to reduce unnecessary complications, transfers, and patient length of stay.

The new eICU Center, located in Providence’s Health Park, is staffed around the clock by a multidisciplinary critical care team. Visual, verbal, and data communications connect the eICU specialists with hospital critical care teams to enhance the level of care that they can provide locally.

The Providence eICU Center serves as a second set of eyes, remotely monitoring patient vital signs, medications, blood test results, x-rays, and other data in Providence’s Adult Critical Care unit. With the assistance of advanced computer algorithms, the eICU Program continuously analyzes patient conditions and alerts medical staff to potential problems before they occur. Critical care specialists then guide appropriate intervention to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

Providence plans to partner with hospitals outside of its network to bring 24/7 specialist support to surrounding communities and their patients—bringing critical care close to home. “Here in Alaska, community and rural hospitals do not have the staffing capabilities to deliver advanced medical care,” says Providence CEO Al Parrish. “With the implementation of the eICU Program at Providence Alaska Medical Center, this enhanced medical service can now be provided locally to the sickest of patients. We will save additional lives with the eICU.”

Source: Philips

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