Modification of a tele-ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced nurses’ exposure to the disease, conserved personal protective equipment and doubled available critical care beds at Atrium Health based in Charlotte, N.C., according to a recent article in Critical Care Nurse. Atrium Health has been providing tele-ICU care in its hospitals since 2013, providing real-time, two-way audio and high-definition video communication between critical care beds and mobile carts. The system gives bedside clinicians immediate access to experienced ICU nursing support at the push of a button. As part of the system’s pandemic preparations, Atrium Health provided home workstations to a team of nurses and operational leaders to assure continued coverage in the event of a quarantine. (Newswise news release, 7/31/20)
