eICU - Saint Luke's Health System

Saint Luke's eICU

	Welcome

The Saint Luke's eICU assures that ICU patients have a specially trained, critical care physician, monitoring and managing ICU care on a pro-active, 24-hour basis. This physician and the critical care team have full access to the patient record and current physiological data. The team can even see and speak to the patient if the need arises. eICU Fact Sheet eICU Family Brochure How does Saint Luke's eICU system work? Using computers and sophisticated technology, a trained physician, along with a critical care nurse and technician, can accurately monitor ICU patients from an off-site location. [Read More] Using computers and sophisticated technology, a trained physician, along with a critical care nurse and technician, can accurately monitor ICU patients from an off-site location. Saint Luke's e ICU system is an advanced telemedicine solution from VISICU, a leading provider of remote care to patients in ICUs. The Clinical Operations Room is staffed 24 hours a day by a multidisciplinary critical care team. How does the patient's doctor work with the eICU team? The patient's physician designates the level of care he or she wishes to delegate to the e ICU care team. [Read More] The patient's physician designates the level of care he or she wishes to delegate to the e ICU care team. This may range from monitoring to full implementation of a care plan. The Saint Luke's e ICU physicians as indicated can make decisions about treatment when the patient's doctor is not present in the ICU. In all instances, the care team is available to respond to emergent issues as they arise. Regardless of the circumstances, the Saint Luke's e ICU care team communicates frequently with the patient's physician about his/her plan of medical care. Who makes the decisions? The patient's physician makes all final decisions regarding the plan of care. [Read More] The patient's physician makes all final decisions care. The patient's physician and the Saint Luke's e ICU physician discuss medical status and treatment plans daily. The eICU physician may modify treatment according to the physician's plan when he or she is not present in the hospital. How does the Saint Luke's eICU team deliver the medical care? Vital signs, medications, blood test results, X-rays, and other information from bedside monitors are sent to Saint Luke's e ICU facility by private, high-speed data lines. [Read More] Vital signs, medications, blood test results, X-rays, and other information from bedside monitors are sent to Saint Luke's e ICU facility by private, high-speed data lines. This information is displayed on computers exactly as it is seen in the hospital room for the doctors and nurses to view. Patients can be examined through the use of special cameras, and the e ICU team can talk directly with hospital doctors and nurses. The team also has powerful computer systems that continuously analyze the information and alerts them to possible problems. Other systems contain the latest medical information for diagnosing and treating many ICU conditions. The combination of the nurses and doctors in the hospital ICU and the Saint Luke's e ICU team provides the very best possible care. Why are cameras necessary? Just as a physician needs to see patients in person, Saint Luke's eICU physicians and nurses also need to “make rounds” to check on patients. [Read More] Just as a physician needs to see patients in person, Saint Luke's eICU physicians and nurses also need to “make rounds” to check on patients. Doctors and nurses only view patients when necessary to see how they are doing. Cameras are located in each ICU room. When the camera is turned off, it faces away from the patient toward the wall. When turned on, a bell rings and the camera turns to face the patient. How is private health information protected? Information is not released to anyone other than those providing medical care. [Read More] Access to information is limited to those with hospital information. Information is not released to anyone other than those providing medical care. No recording is ever made from either the camera or microphone. Sending patient information to/from Saint Luke's system occurs only over private connections. All personnel gain entry to Saint Luke's eICU facility through secured access. [Show All] / [Hide All]