HIGH POINT, N.C. -
A virtual intensive care unit is now a very real part of High Point Regional Health System.
"We've had it going now for about a week, and it has worked in somewhat seamlessly into the way we take care of patients," said Dr.Peter Brath, ICU medical director.
A two-way audio-video computer system allows physicians to monitor patients in real-time from more than 700 miles away in St Louis. Having 24-hour assistance and a valuable second opinion so far removed from the possible chaos of an ICU gives attending nurses and doctors the help they might need.
"It's always good to have the opinion of somebody that's not right in it, that has stepped back and taken a look at the big picture," Dr. Brath added.
"It also allows us to use tools to implement the best practices, and then to measure how we are doing so that we can focus on where we can make improvements," said Dr. Isabelle Kopec, an attending physician in St. Louis. "It's this combination of technology that gets much better results than we can (provide) individually."
The system does not replace doctors or nurses in the I.C.U.
"It just adds an extra layer of protection, (an) extra layer of coverage to the care we give here," said Brath.
"We've had it going now for about a week, and it has worked in somewhat seamlessly into the way we take care of patients," said Dr.Peter Brath, ICU medical director.
A two-way audio-video computer system allows physicians to monitor patients in real-time from more than 700 miles away in St Louis. Having 24-hour assistance and a valuable second opinion so far removed from the possible chaos of an ICU gives attending nurses and doctors the help they might need.
"It's always good to have the opinion of somebody that's not right in it, that has stepped back and taken a look at the big picture," Dr. Brath added.
"It also allows us to use tools to implement the best practices, and then to measure how we are doing so that we can focus on where we can make improvements," said Dr. Isabelle Kopec, an attending physician in St. Louis. "It's this combination of technology that gets much better results than we can (provide) individually."
The system does not replace doctors or nurses in the I.C.U.
"It just adds an extra layer of protection, (an) extra layer of coverage to the care we give here," said Brath.
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