From Mary Washington Healthcare:
Mary Washington Healthcare’s critically ill patients will soon have the benefit of the most advanced telemedicine program available in hospital intensive care units today. Beginning December 7, for Stafford Hospital, and January 5, for Mary Washington Hospital, Mary Washington Healthcare will partner with Hicuity Health®, the nation’s largest provider of tele-ICU services, to deliver monitoring by highly trained intensivist physicians and critical care specialists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing an extra layer of care that enhances patient care and safety.
“This new partnership with Hicuity Health is part of our commitment to continually innovate and improve services for our patients and our community,” stated Christopher Newman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Mary Washington Healthcare. “With the addition of around-the-clock telemonitoring by intensivist physicians to the level of quality care already provided by our ICU team and physicians in the hospital, our ICU patients will receive the highest level of medical care available today.”
“Tele-ICUs are becoming an integral part of critical care services,” noted Lou Silverman, CEO of Hicuity Health. “Our team is pleased to collaborate with the physicians and clinicians at Mary Washington Healthcare, supporting them in providing care for our mutual patients.”
Independent studies demonstrate that this 24/7 intensivist monitoring significantly improves patient outcomes and patient safety in the intensive care unit. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), implementation of a tele-ICU program was associated with reduced adjusted odds of mortality and reduced hospital length of stay, as well as with improvements in best practice adherence and lower rates of preventable complications. Another study published by the New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI) recommends that community hospitals with 10 or more ICU beds adopt tele-ICU care.
Hicuity Health’s team of intensivists and critical care nurses work around the clock from centralized operations centers, complementing the care provided by Mary Washington Healthcare clinicians. The program continuously monitors patient vital signs, labs, and the patient’s clinical status.
Proactive data management tools identify problems before they become urgent, prompting immediate intervention when necessary. In-room audio/video is utilized during periods of evaluation or when called on by the nurse. This two-way communication enables face-to-face consultations between the bedside staff and the Hicuity Health team, ensuring that help is available when needed.
