Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health instituted a virtual intensive care unit (ICU) to increase critical care capacity in the 13-hospital health system, Allegheny Health Network. The effort initially involved four outlying hospitals and 64 ICU beds. Lessons learned during the initiative included the value of collaborating with experienced partners, expecting challenges related to outdated technology and building a culture of change into the process. Benefits of the virtual model involved switching hospitals from reactive to proactive modes and improving staff morale, especially among nurses empowered by the initiative to work at the top of their license. (HealthLeaders article, 3/23/21)
