Tech | April 05, 2009 | 9 comments

Can high tech and remote computers save your life? Hospitals say: Yes

source: http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/050801/1wired.htm

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ClipsFC
It is just before 1 p.m. on a Friday in late June, and Brenda Coulter is making her rounds. Coulter is an intensive care nurse, and she's checking on a patient coming out of heart-bypass surgery at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee. But she's not actually at St. Luke's. She's in a low brick building several miles away, closer to the Milwaukee airport than it is to the hospital. "Hello, how are you? I'm Brenda Coulter, a nurse, just making sure everything's OK," she says into a microphone. On one screen in a bank of five computer monitors in front of her, a man looks up from his bed, his face partly covered by an oxygen mask, and nods his head. "Good," Coulter says. On another screen, the man's heartbeat traces a regular rhythm, up and down, up and down.

This is the Aurora eICU, from which a team of doctors and nurses keeps constant watch on more than 10 intensive care units in four different hospitals spread across eastern Wisconsin. The idea is not to make care more remote. "Actually, the goal is to bring expertise to a patient's bedside faster than we ever could before," says David Rein, the unit's medical director.

Rein is a critical care doctor. Most hospitals have them, as well as nurse specialists like Coulter, and most also have trouble getting them to look at all patients in all ICU s on all different floors. The clinicians aren't sloths. They simply can't be in two--or 10--places at once. That is, unless they're in the eICU. From their workstations, Rein, Coulter, and three other nurses control cameras that can zoom in so tightly they can see capillaries in a patient's eyes. Monitors display vital signs and a patient's electronic chart, which records medications and the time given, notes on their condition, lab test results, and X-rays. Not only can Rein and Coulter spot trouble early; they also can coach nonspecialists in the patient's room about what to do to fix it.
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9 comments // Can high tech and remote computers save your life? Hospitals say: Yes

  • ClipsFC
    • 0
      ClipsFC  

    • oh there is no doubt that certain things need to be face to face or in a clinic that has certain equipment. I think the Computer version is good for file sharing, access to your medial files. Even a web cam meeting with your doctor is cool if you have questions. I know some hospitals have hook-ups now when they do certain surgeries or procedures and need a specialist tied in. That person may be at the opposite side of the country and can participate via computer guiding the surgeons or staff as needed. It's a great way of getting staff together.

    • 3 years ago
  • ayashe
    • 0
      ayashe  

    • I think that this can be good, but I also think that people need competent, trained doctors, and not just be talking to a screen all the time. Sometimes you have to be there to fully understand the problem. I know they're not just there with screens all the time, and there are people around, I'm just saying that more quality heath care should be available to all people so we wouldn't have to do things like this.

    • 3 years ago
  • ClipsFC
    • 0
      ClipsFC  

    • Oh I know. I hate hospitals, A) I can't smoke and B) no cell phone .. C) Internet access sucks ..and I can go on. Home care is always the way to go however expensive that can get. Would love to see more of computers being hooked into doctor's offices. I know that CVS is now doing all scripts by computer. Refills they just send an email and the office processes it and sends it back to CVS by email. I hope that's never going to become a security issue. I also know Veterans affairs now has extensive access to medical records as well as pharmacy requests by computer (From a Friend that's a Vet)

    • 3 years ago
  • sickinjersey
    • 0
      sickinjersey  

    • man you should see my doctors hand held. it has NORAD programs in it for cdc presentations.crazy huh?i think this is great.practitioners could really focus on problems much quicker and in a virtual group setting with privacy at the patients level. Long term hospital stays are very depressing and have a negative impact on your recovery in some cases.

    • 3 years ago
  • ras_menelik
  • ClipsFC
    • 0
      ClipsFC  
    • ras_menelik:

      Man that would be awesome! Imagine them having them plugged in, reading your Blood pressure, maybe sugar level etc. .. Hurry and try to pattern that lol. Probably already have that huh.

    • 3 years ago
  • FirstClassOnly
    • 0
      FirstClassOnly  

    • Sure it does. We have several hospitals in our area that offer computer care. You can speak to your doctor, ask to speak to a nurse, get advise etc. It's a great idea and might even help to cut health care cost.

    • 3 years ago
  • ClipsFC
  • ClipsFC
    • 0
      ClipsFC  

    • My neighbor actually had this setup for 3 years. He was on the hospice program (Freedom to die at home program) He had chronic diseases. He spoke to staff 24 hours a day, the doctors checked in with him via the computer. Of course he had a nurse in the house as well but many of the daily chats with doctors and test results including his data was sent over the computer. Seemed to be a great way to stay in touch with health professionals and for them to get your data instantly.

    • 3 years ago
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