Research to introduce telemedicine (eICU) to the hospital.

My annotated bibliography is based on this research proposal. You can use whatever source content that is needed but this is my proposal. I have no siurces yet. Later I will need to write an 8 page paper on this subject and using the sources you find for the bibliography

Memorandum
To:Hospital administration
From:Samantha Vicchio RN
Date:9/17/2011
Re:Proposal for the implementation of eICU

A substantial body of evidence suggests that the presence of an intensivist is associated with higher quality of care in hospital intensive care units (ICU) (Landro, 2009). The hospital is unable to employ full time intensivists at this time, because of the size and structure (lack of space) of the site. To solve this dilemma, I propose that the hospital implement a telemedicine (eICU) system.

The Society for Critical Care Medicine and the Leapfrog Group have established a standard of intensivist involvement for all ICU patients (2011). It has been predicted, however, that the disease burden created by the aging U.S. population will lead to a shortage of intensivists. This shortage is expected to continue through at least 2020 if current supply and demand trends continue (Landro, 2009).

Telemedicine is a way to employ a small number of intensivists that can cover a wide range of patients, meaning, the intensivists can cover more than one hospital at any given time. Since the intensivist is covering more than one hospital, each hospital can share the burden of cost.

An audio-video patient monitoring and management system or electronic ICU is a system of telemedicine specifically designed for the intensive care unit. The eICU uses intensivists and critical care nurses to provide continuous, real-time supplemental monitoring, and management of ICU patients in various locations from a centralized, off-site facility. Supporting software includes physician note and order-writing capability, and Sentry Alerts that provide alerts for out-of-range readings on heart rate, blood pressure, laboratory values, etc. Software also includes immediate access to all patient progress notes, plans of care, and x-rays. As well as real-time visual observation of the patient and communication with all members of the patient care team and a computer-based decision-support tool (Berenson, 2009).

My initial research on implementation of eICU shows improved quality and safety with patient care and a reduction in mortality and length of stay. Further research and time is required to assess the benefits, risks, and cost associated with eICU. Upon your approval, I will continue my research and have a full report in five weeks.

References

Berenson, R. A., Grossman, J. M., & November, E. A. (2009). Does telemonitoring of patients-the eICU-improve intensive care? Health Affairs, 28(5), W937-W937-W947. Retrieved from http://login.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/852799410?accountid=4485

Landro, L. (2009). Health care (A special report) — the picture of health: With critical-care specialists in short supply, remote monitoring offers a high-tech solution. Wall Street Journal, pp. R.4-R.4. Retrieved from http://login.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/399131147?accountid=4485

Society of Critical Care Medicine. Accessed September 6, 2011 Available at: http://www.sccm.org