Park Ridge Health enhances ICU care with advanced telemedicine

Press release from Park Ridge Health:

Hendersonville, N.C. (July 10, 2014) — Park Ridge Health is the first hospital in our community to provide around-the-clock monitoring of intensive care unit (ICU) patients by intensivist physicians and critical care nurses through telemedicine, delivering an extra layer of care that enhances patient safety.

A recipient of the recent Premier Partnership for Patients Award for success in patient safety, Park Ridge Health now provides an additional layer of safety through the use of tele-ICU technology. Independent studies demonstrate that this 24/7 intensivist monitoring significantly improves patient outcomes and patient safety in the ICU. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), implementation of a tele-ICU program was associated with reduced adjusted odds of mortality and reduced hospital length of stay, as well as with improvements in best practice adherence and lower rates of preventable complications.

To implement its program, Park Ridge Health has partnered with Advanced ICU Care®, the nation’s largest provider of tele-ICU services.

“The Advanced ICU Care program delivers additional critical care expertise directly to our patients, along with evidence-based practices to complement the high-quality care our physicians and staff already provide,” said Craig Lindsey, Vice President of Clinical Services at Park Ridge Health.

The Advanced ICU Care team of intensivists and critical care nurses add to the care provided by the Park Ridge Health team, continuously monitoring patients’ vital signs, medications, labs and clinical status. Proactive data management tools identify issues 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 during periods of evaluation or when called on by the caregiver.

“This is a new horizon in health care, because it takes the concept of telemedicine to the bedside,” said Carlo Mainardi, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R., Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at Park Ridge Health. “When a Park Ridge Health patient is admitted to the ICU, there will automatically be a connection to Advanced ICU care. They will then do an initial evaluation of the patient and participate in their care. This will not in any way hinder the day-to-day care that our staff and our physicians provide, but will supplement it.”

About Park Ridge Health: Founded in 1910, Park Ridge Health is a beloved piece of our growing community’s health care network, providing leading-edge, compassionate care in a Christian environment. Park Ridge Health is a member of Adventist Health System, a family of 45 exceptional, faith-based hospitals across the country that operate independently to deliver care and services that best meet the needs of their communities. Leading the way in many medical firsts for the region, Park Ridge Health provides personalized care at more than 30 locations, offering a dedicated network of more than 140 physicians and providers, cardiac care & rehabilitation, emergency services, nationally awarded cancer care, state-of-the-art surgical care, full-service orthopedic care, a boutique labor & delivery experience, a full range of imaging services and the only accredited hyperbaric medicine facility in Western North Carolina. For more information about Park Ridge Health or to find a physician, please visit www.parkridgehealth.org or call 855.PRH.LIFE (855.774.5433).