[MellowYellow]

Does anyone here work with an eICU where there is an intensivist and a couple of critical care (experienced) nurses OFF site who can camera into your rooms when you call for them to help you out? This has just started at my hospital system and I'm wondering how it might work at yours (although I know it's new and not widely in use).

[SICU Queen]

I haven't, but I'm super curious about this concept and hope you get some responses from those who know!!

[pabsnstudent]

I just started as a new grad in a hospital that utilizes eICU - VISICU. It seems very interesting. They took all of the new nurses that are starting in the ICU to where the monitoring occurs for the hospital. The nurses seem to appreciate it and use it when needed. They also use it for monitoring correct some research purposes (HOB greater than 30 degrees, correct dressing techniques, etc.) I don't know if that was much of a help, but I don't really know much more else about it since I am also new at the facility.

[MellowYellow]

Actually I jobshare between the REAL ICU and the virtual one. I was interested in how others see it. I've been involved in it since it started at our hospital system about a year and a half ago. As of the end of the month all five hospitals ---involving 10 ICU units will me monitored via the eICU.

For additional info you can google it.

[meandragonbrett]

I don't know how much I like the concept of eICU. Seems too much like big brother is there to watch over you.....I just see it being used for purposes other than it's intended use.

[MellowYellow]

When I first heard of the concept I too thought "Big Brother"..but now that I worl on both sides of the camera I realize I certainly have far more to do than watch to see what and how a nurse is doing something. The beauty is that I no longer have to wait for a doctor to call me back in an emergency situation; thee is someone to bounce ideas off of. I've helped inexperienced nurses troubleshoot Alines- assisted new nurses in how fast they can run a drip in an emergent situation; kept my eye on an newly extubabted pt while his nurse is called to another room.

[lovelylpn]

eICU can be a good thing or a bad thing. The ICU I work in uses this and it comes in very handy when pts are crashing, or even before then. The docs and nurses there look at all the labs, vital signs, and are able to visualize the room including drips and such. The down side is when your super busy with one patient, and they are calling on the phone constantly about the other patient, usually about little insignificant things. I value their experience and judgement, but at the same time, I am the one here with the patient and have a better view of the overall picture than they do sometimes. Overall though, it is a great assest to the ICU patients, nurses, and docs.

[HD-RN]

we have it here in st. louis, so far we have just experienced the computer charting part of it with ecaremanager. but i think its great. if your patient isnt doing so well and you dont want to leave the room, you can hit the button and ask them to check on your other patient while you are tied up... also the cameras can zoom in so far to see pupillary reaction. its pretty wicked.

[boomerfriend]

I know they have one here in Arizona. Don't remember which hospital but I think it would be really nice to have an extra set of eyes watching a patient that might be pretty questionable....

[TheNuttyNurse]

I work fulltime in the eICU in st. louis. Love it! I have died and gone to nursing heaven. We currently watch about 200 patients n 4 states. We go live with another 100 beds after the first of the year. It's an exciting time for everybody. We're currently the largest eICU in the country and after those next 100 beds, well be the largest in the world. WoWsers!!