Program Begins March 27, 2012
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Southern Regional Medical Center’s (SRMC) critically ill patients will soon have the benefit of advanced telemedicine technology in the hospital’s intensive care units. Beginning in March 2012, the hospital will partner with Advanced ICU Care®, the nation’s largest independent provider of tele-ICU services, to deliver monitoring by highly trained intensivist physicians and critical care specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing an extra layer of care that enhances patient safety.
SRMC is the first hospital in the south metro Atlanta region to implement this program, which is demonstrated to improve patient care and to meet the best practice standard of 24/7 intensivist oversight in the ICU. SRMC’s program is part of a growing trend of utilizing telemedicine to transform care and the financial performance in Intensive Care Units.
“Tele-ICUs are becoming an integral part of critical care,” noted Mary Jo Gorman, M.D., M.B.A., chief executive officer for Advanced ICU Care. “Our team is excited to collaborate with the physicians and clinicians at Southern Regional Medical Center, supporting them in providing the best possible care and safety for their patients."
“This new partnership with Advanced ICU Care is part of our commitment to continually innovate and improve services for our patients and our community,” said Dr. Willie Cochran, chief medical officer at SRMC. “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.”
Independent studies demonstrate that this 24/7 intensivist monitoring significantly improves patient outcomes and patient safety in the critical 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 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.
However, the current serious shortage of intensivist physicians means that many hospitals cannot provide the recommended coverage within their facilities. Advanced ICU Care makes it possible for hospitals to meet this standard by providing a solution combining 24/7 intensivist-led care, best-of-breed technology, and a rigorous focus on best practice compliance that sets a new standard in ICU patient care.
Advanced ICU Care’s team of intensivists and critical care nurses work remotely around-the-clock complementing the care provided by the SRMC physicians. The program continuously monitors real-time patient vital signs, medications, labs and the patient’s clinical status. Proactive data management tools assist with the identification of problems before they become urgent, prompting immediate intervention when necessary. Two-way video access in each patient’s room enables face-to-face consultations between the bedside and Advanced ICU Care team, ensuring that help is available when needed.
About Southern Regional Medical Center
Southern Regional Medical Center (SRMC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the surrounding community, blends a profound passion for healing with the use of advanced medical technology to deliver superior care to our patients. SRMC is a full-service, 331-bed hospital in Riverdale, Ga. It is the only accredited Chest Pain Center and was the first to offer angioplasty on the south side of Atlanta. SRMC also boasts an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, minimally-invasive, robotic surgeries with The da Vinci Surgical System® and a variety of rehabilitation services. http://www.southernregional.org/
About Advanced ICU Care
Advanced ICU Care provides comprehensive tele-ICU programs and consulting services. Advanced ICU Care’s best-of-breed tele-ICU programs combine experienced intensivist-led care teams, sophisticated telemedicine technology, and a rigorous focus on evidence-based best practices to improve patient care and safety. As the largest independent tele-ICU provider, Advanced ICU Care has a proven track record of improving the clinical, financial and operational performance of its hospital partners. For more information, visit www.icumedicine.com.
CONTACT:
Advanced ICU Care
Angela Pena, 818-610-0270
[email protected]
or
SRMC
Amanda Bartlett, 770-897-7085
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United States North America Georgia Missouri
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Hospitals Nursing
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