title: Measuring tele-ICU impact: does it optimize quality outcomes for the critically ill patient?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between tele-ICU (intensive care unit) implementations and improvement in quality measures and patient outcomes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Tele-ICUs were designed to leverage scarce critical-care experts and promised to improve patient quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abstracts and peer-reviewed articles were reviewed to identify the associations between tele-ICU programmes and clinical outcomes, cost savings, and customer satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few peer-reviewed studies are available and many variables in each study limit the ability to associate study conclusions to the overall tele-ICU programme. Further research is required to explore the impact of the tele-ICU on patient/family satisfaction. Research findings are highly dependent upon the level of ICU acceptance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tele-ICU, in collaboration with the ICU team, can be a valuable tool for the enhancement of quality goals although the ability to demonstrate cost savings is extremely complex. Studies clearly indicate that tele-ICU nursing vigilance can enhance patient safety by preventing potential patient harm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing managers and leaders play a vital part in optimizing the quality role of the tele-ICU through supportive modelling and the maximization of ICU integration.
authors.affiliation: MaineHealth VitalNetwork, Portland, ME 04103, USA. gorans@mmc.org
authors.forename: Susan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Goran
mesh_terms: D017046:Cost Savings; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061214:Patient Safety; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome