Safety and Quality Metrics for ICU Telemedicine: Measuring Success

Abstract

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) warrant continuous monitoring and titration of care by qualified personnel. However, there has been a shortage of trained intensivists and round the clock availability further adds stress to the existing discrepancy in the supply and demand. Moreover, such a model also will contribute to physician fatigue and burn out. Remote monitoring of ICU patients from a central location provides for an efficient mechanism to optimally utilize the existing manpower while balancing the supply demand mismatch. Remote ICU or Tele-ICU intuitively should increase the quality and safety of care provided. However, data regarding this is conflicting. The variation in impact of tele-ICU on these outcomes stems from the type of ICU it is provided in, the model of care provision, its local acceptance, and the metrics evaluated. In this chapter we have addressed the existing literature on the effects of tele-ICU on patient safety and quality of care and the indices that have been studied to evaluate this.