Health Information Technology and Teleintensivist Program's Effect on Critically Ill Patients

Advocates of healthcare reform have emphasized implementation of electronic medical records (EMR) as a base for further improvements. However, few clinicians expect EMR, in isolation, to substantially affect healthcare delivery. In this study, researchers assessed the effect of introducing an EMR system, in combination with telemedicine coverage of intensive care unit patients by teleintensivists, within a 727-bed (36 ICU-bed) acute care hospital. Baseline patient data were collected for 16 months before implementation of an EMR and teleintensivist program and postimplementation data were collected for 10 months afterward. At baseline, intensivists were in house from 7 am to 11 pm and on call at other times. After implementation of the tele…