Royal Philips https://www.usa.philips.com and Japan-based Showa University just announced the launch of Japan’s first telemedicine intensive care (eICU) program at both Showa University Hospital and Showa Koto Toyosu Hospital https://wwwshowa-u.ac/en/index.html.
The Philips eICU program enables near real-time remote patient monitoring and early intervention via advanced audio visual technology. The use of Philips technology can enable smart algorithms to predict deteriorations in health, enable remote experts to communicate with bedside caregivers via live video links, continuously monitor the patient’s status, and advise on the best course of treatment from other locations.
Philips has established an eICU Outreach Program for use in lower-capacity health systems and hospitals. For hospitals with fewer than 50 ICU beds, it may not be possible to implement a complete telehealth program in-house. So Philips is now partnering with lower capacity health systems and hospitals, so these organizations can have their critical care beds observed via an eICU program.
Philips has developed a partnership between Emory Healthcare https://www.emoryhealthcare.org and the Royal Perth Hospital in Australia https://wwwrph.gov.au to enable successful use of the eICU. This partnership enables Emory physicians and nurses at Emory to communicate remotely with the team of doctors and nurses based in Perth Australia during daytime hours which enables nighttime hours at Emory’s eICU Center in Atlanta to be covered.
Specialized cameras, video monitors, microphones, and speakers installed in Emory’s ICU rooms at four of their hospitals and one non-Emory hospital connect to the care team in Australia.
By using the remote eICU technology, the providers in Australia can not only monitor the patient but speak directly to a care provider at the patient’s bedside in Atlanta while also talking to the patient and/or family members.
Cheryl Hiddleson, RN, Director of the Emory eICU Center reports, “Based on knowledge from our six month pilot project, this new two to three year project in Perth will help us refine the eICU practice and the best delivery of care for our patients.”
She adds, “Our goal is to optimize the remote practice in Perth with the correct number of care providers, the most effective duration of time spent on rotation along with other areas of focus to determine the best conditions for our providers caring for our patients.”