eICU

An ICU pt. is monitored by RNs and an intensivist outside of the hospital at a remote location. Trends are watched on monitors (HR, hemodynamics, labs etc..). There are also cameras in all the ICU rooms with a speaker so if something happens the nurse or doctor can ring into the room and talk to the bedside nurse. Patients are only viewed when necessary. The camera is not on at all times. Very interesting concept and research has shown that it decreases the mortality rate in the ICU. Trends can be monitored closely and interventions made before an incident occurs.

Our NCC is the last unit to go "on-line" with the eICU. It has mixed reviews in our facility so far but I have heard more positive than negative. Our eICU monitors three different facilities, ICU, CCU, NCC in each facility. There is an eICU button in each room that you press if you need to talk to the nurse or doctor. They do rounds and assessments just like we would but not as frequently unless the patient is labeled is spiraling downward.

We are supposed to go live the end of this month, personally I am excited to have a knowledgeable doctor present during night shift.

I think it's stupid and a waste of time.

If i'm an icu nurse with any real ability, i'll be able to monitor and care for my 2 patients...and take care of them well. I dont need a camera pointed at my patient (and me), i dont need someone calling me and telling me a rhythm or number is bad (or patient is crooked in bed). Also, I doubt the docs i work with would like it if some far-away intensivist were fooling in treatment/orders...

NO way. What a waste of resources and an INSULT to proficient critical care providers. Perhaps a safety net for not-so-good nurses...it's kinda like some tele-tech on steroids...and a nosing intensivist...or e-nurse who doesnt do any real work...just sits at a desk and calls you with stuff you should notice anyway...

I think it's technology for technology's sake...and does little for patient care.

I think it's stupid and a waste of time.

If i'm an icu nurse with any real ability, i'll be able to monitor and care for my 2 patients...and take care of them well. I dont need a camera pointed at my patient (and me), i dont need someone calling me and telling me a rhythm or number is bad (or patient is crooked in bed). Also, I doubt the docs i work with would like it if some far-away intensivist were fooling in treatment/orders...

NO way. What a waste of resources and an INSULT to proficient critical care providers. Perhaps a safety net for not-so-good nurses...it's kinda like some tele-tech on steroids...and a nosing intensivist...or e-nurse who doesnt do any real work...just sits at a desk and calls you with stuff you should notice anyway...

I think it's technology for technology's sake...and does little for patient care.

I an an excellent ICU nurse and I am not insulted or threatened by the eICU. I am excited that my patients will receive the best possible care and will have the best possible outcomes. The nurse who work the eICU at my hospital work on their floors as well. The work the floor 1-2 days a week and the eICU the remaining hours. They are not intrusive and they do not call for stupid issues that do not need intervention (so I hear from the other floors and our training). Before the camera is turned on there is a chiming noise so that the nurse and the patient know they are on camera.

Perhaps I will feel like you once it is implemented into our unit but I hope not. There is no reason to be afraid or threatened by technology, especially if it is to improve the care we give to our patients.

I an an excellent ICU nurse and I am not insulted or threatened by the eICU. I am excited that my patients will receive the best possible care and will have the best possible outcomes. The nurse who work the eICU at my hospital work on their floors as well. The work the floor 1-2 days a week and the eICU the remaining hours. They are not intrusive and they do not call for stupid issues that do not need intervention (so I hear from the other floors and our training). Before the camera is turned on there is a chiming noise so that the nurse and the patient know they are on camera.

Perhaps I will feel like you once it is implemented into our unit but I hope not. There is no reason to be afraid or threatened by technology, especially if it is to improve the care we give to our patients.

Understood... However, if, as you say, "they're not intrusive...do not call for stupid issues..." then what/how do they do what they're doing? Give me an example of why they would call... And my response would be 'sounds like a tele tech on steroids!'... If they'only' call for 'poor trends', or 'bad numbers' then they're calling for something a good critical-care provider would be aware of anyway. Thats why i beleive it to be a waste of resources and an example of 'technology for technology's sake'. They're merely tele-techs on steroids...with a camera that 'bongs' when they turn it on to watch you...

The e ICU sounds wonderful to me as a nurse in a small rural hospital ICU. It would help us greatly to deal with the anxiety associated with those things we do and see infrequently such as Swans, transvenous pacers, pediatric patients especially infants on vents etc. How wonderful to have an expert on call who has all the info and data at their fingertips and can "see " the patient prn

We are finally getting MD coverage for the night shift!!!!

Yeeeeh!

After few months of us criticizing, because it really does not make sense to me, that eICU is on for days and not for nights! You would understand that the specialists, the intensivists, the PMD's, PA's and NP's are all over on dayshift and totally absent for the graveyard shift.

And, when are you pt getting admitted, crashing, having CP, sz and falls?

I have to say, that in general, when they have been a MD on, I have being very satisfyied. They'll have your lab results before you! I'll tell you probably in a year what I really think about it all. So far, none of my pt's objected to the idea. (Not that they can refuse the service, according to our hospital).

To find out more, Google eicu.

The e ICU sounds wonderful to me as a nurse in a small rural hospital ICU. It would help us greatly to deal with the anxiety associated with those things we do and see infrequently such as Swans, transvenous pacers, pediatric patients especially infants on vents etc. How wonderful to have an expert on call who has all the info and data at their fingertips and can "see " the patient prn

At first i kinda thought this made sense...but after a bit i felt differently. If your ICU is unfamiliar and 'anxious' over infrequent treatments...then these patients need sent away rather than an eICU...ESPECIALLY peds pt's/infants on vents!!! If your (especially NICU!) nurses are uncomfortable in any way with delivering this type of critical-care, then these patients' lives may be in jeapordy(sp?)! I dont think a monitor-tech (even if he's a physician) at a remote location is going to be much of a help. Either your nurses need to know what they're doing...or the patients need transferred to where they do.

They'll have your lab results before you! .

Is it me, or this not a dumb a concept??? Why in the world would lab results be first relayed to a remote location rather than to the bedside critical-care team?!?!?! Even if a panic value is resulted, why would the laboratory not report this immediately to the unit???

eICU is a waste of time...

Is it me, or this not a dumb a concept??? Why in the world would lab results be first relayed to a remote location rather than to the bedside critical-care team?!?!?! Even if a panic value is resulted, why would the laboratory not report this immediately to the unit???

eICU is a waste of time...

What I took the post to mean is that they are sitting in front of the computer and will be able to look up your labs for you if needed, no way do the results get called to the eICU that isn't what it is designed for.

eICU is meant to help the ICU nurse, doctor and patient; if you don't need help don't use it. I for one am excited to have a doctor available all night who knows something about critical care rather than first year interns who are shell-shocked about everything.

What I took the post to mean is that they are sitting in front of the computer and will be able to look up your labs for you if needed, no way do the results get called to the eICU that isn't what it is designed for.

eICU is meant to help the ICU nurse, doctor and patient; if you don't need help don't use it. I for one am excited to have a doctor available all night who knows something about critical care rather than first year interns who are shell-shocked about everything.

Here is a great example of how the eICU helped a patient the other night...The pt. had extensive cancer of the mouth, neck and a total resection of his mandible. The pt. went into a respiratory arrest. The code team of all qualified personel responded; however they could not intubate this pt. orally or nasally. The eICU intensivist gave suggestions to the respiratory therapist and bedside intensivist and guess what...after a 1/2 hour of those at the bedside attempting to intubate (luckily they were able to bag the pt. enough to maintain a good sat) they were able to with the suggestions of the eICU doc. Pt. is doing fine.

Many of the small rural hospitals that our eICU is affiliated with have new grads or not as experienced nurses. Often times they will utilize the eICU.

I agree with the above post-if you believe that you do not need it-don't use it. I have worked in a CVICU for many years and believe I can care for my pt. or two without any help, but when you are put in a situation where both pt.'s are crashing-believe me the help of the eICU is invaluable to me. This is including heart, lung transplants and VADs. The surgeons where I work have even used the eICU at night to manage a pt. when appropriate.

As nurses we do have to be open to change and technology. When our hospital went to computerized charting (Emtek-not Cerner) we all were resistant. Now I would never do it any other way.