MOKENA, Ill., July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing commitment to improving quality care and patient safety, Provena Health announced today it will invest $6 million in advanced technology to make fundamental improvements in hospital ICU care.
Once Provena Health completes its remote intensive care unit (eICU center), more than 115 critically ill patients at its six hospitals will have instant access to physicians specializing in critical care -- at any time of day or night.
Over the next 16 months, Provena Health will be installing the electronic connections -- including cameras, sound systems, and clinical monitors -- between each ICU bed and the centrally located eICU center. (Cameras mounted in patient rooms are only used when needed and are not on continuously to protect patient privacy.) This will be supplemented by sophisticated software that enables remote monitoring and communication.
Additionally, the eICU center will be staffed by critical care nurses and physicians who specialize in treating critically ill patients (intensivists).
Time Critical for ICU Patients
“Time is crucial when treating critically ill patients,” said Margaret Gavigan, chief clinical officer for Provena Health. “The eICU center assures intensive care unit patients that if their condition changes suddenly, they’ll have instant access to a physician expert regardless of the time of day. We expect this effort to save lives and reduce complications.”
Investing in Patient-care Technology
Provena Health will spend more than $6 million to set up the eICU center working with VISICU, the Baltimore, Md.-based firm that perfected the concept. Annually, the eICU will cost an estimated $3 million to maintain.
“These proven technologies will help us take quality care and safety to the next level for our sickest patients,” said William T. Foley, president and chief executive officer of Provena Health. “We are pleased to be at the leading edge of this clinical enhancement.”
How It Works
If a patient monitor at the hospital ICU detects a significant, negative change in condition, it will trigger an alert at the eICU center. A critical- care doctor at the center will view the patient, talk with the nurses, review patient data on the monitors, and give direction.
This monitor-and-respond technology is similar to that used by air traffic controllers.
Gavigan noted that the eICU physicians don’t replace the patients’ attending physician, but rather act as a layer of safety when the attending physician is not present.
Process Begins Today
Provena Health clinical, technology and administrative experts began today the work of implementing the electronic intensive care unit. Next week, they’ll be assessing the technological needs at each hospital ICU and determining the sequence for bringing each hospital into the eICU network.
It will take more than a year to establish the new service in all of the six hospitals. Each community will be informed once its hospital ICU is connected to the control center.
Hospitals Participating
All Provena Health hospitals are in Illinois and all will participate. They are: Provena Covenant Medical Center, Urbana; Provena Mercy Center, Aurora; Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin; Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, Joliet; Provena St. Mary’s Hospital, Kankakee; and Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, Danville.
Provena Health
CONTACT: Clinton Giese of Provena Health, +1-708-478-6356
Web site: http://www.provenahealth.com/
