VIRTUAL PATIENT MONITORING

Remote patient monitoring is enhancing the care of critically ill patients at Baptist Health System hospitals. The eICU program includes a specially trained team of critical care physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals who monitor critical care patients from an off-site location called the eICU Core. eICU staff monitor 114 beds across the five Baptist hospitals in San Antonio. In its 10-years in operation, Baptist’s eICU has monitored more than 200,000 patients, helping to enhance safety and patient satisfaction, while increasing quality of care and outcomes.

eICU Operations Director Leslie Villarreal says eICU nurses are behind the scenes heroes. “Our nurses are here 24/7 to support the bedside nurses and their patients,” says Villarreal. “This extra set of eyes ensures best practice care for our patients and real time feedback for the bedside clinicians.”

The eICU team works in collaboration with bedside nurses and doctors in the hospital, adding a layer of expertise to ICU care. “Baptist Health System is committed to innovative, high quality, safe, reliable care and to providing holistic and consistent care for the sickest patients in our hospitals,” said Baptist Health System Chief Medical Officer, Lynnette Watkins, MD. “Our eICU team takes this care to another level.”

eICU nurses have an average of 18 years of critical care experience. eICU physicians are board certified in critical care medicine. The eICU team works in partnership with bedside teams, providing additional support to staff, patients, and families in the hospital. eICU medical director, Leonard Deal, MD says studies show that this type of care benefits patients in a number of ways. “Data shows that patients recover faster, spend less time in the ICU, and receive more standardized care across the system,” said Deal. “Since 2009, the program has achieved amazing clinical results, reducing length of stay and improving outcomes for patients in the ICU.”