For several months, my ICU has been running a virtual ICU. Meaning each patient room has a camera. Through this camera on an off site location an MD ad RN are monitoring my patient ( in addition to the nurses, residents and attendings).

The H&P, admit orders are faxed here as well as all active orders. The "visicu" doc, or nurse can call via phone, or use a microphone in the pt. room to speak to the patient or house staff.

ANyone working with this? Big plusses and Big minuses. Had the doc last night calling into the microphone, woke up a stable CCU patient and asked himto put his pulse ox back on!!!!! Yet we have an "emergency" button to hit in the room if your patient is crashing and you're getting crappy orders.

Any replies?

Is this for real? If so, sounds like it could be a way to outsource medicine and nursing. I can see it now, some RN in India paid $1.25hr has a video and audio feed into the pts room with monitors etc watching the patient in Chicago. "Please, Patient Smith, take your pain pills, now. But first hold up your braclet to the camera."