Journal of telemedicine and telecare
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We conducted a retrospective, observational study of patient outcomes in two intensive care units in the same hospital. The surgical ICU (SICU) implemented telemedicine and electronic medical records, while the medical ICU (MICU) did not. Medical charts were reviewed for a one-year period before telemedicine and a one-year period afterwards. ⋯ There was no change in adjusted outcome variables in the MICU patients. Implementation of telemedicine and electronic records in the surgical ICU was associated with a profound reduction in severity-adjusted ICU length of stay, ICU mortality, and hospital mortality. However, it is not possible to conclude definitively that the observed associations seen in the SICU were due to the intervention.
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We evaluated the use of telehealth for patients who had suffered a cardiac or respiratory arrest, and were medically coordinated from the Queensland coordination hub at Townsville. We conducted a review of all cardiac or respiratory arrest cases where teleheath had been used prior to aeromedical retrieval. The doctors involved in the cases completed an evaluation form about the use of telehealth during the resuscitation. ⋯ While the telehealth equipment was easy to use, minor audio problems reinforce the need for systems to be wholly reliable. A set of guidelines to aid future telehealth assisted resuscitation was produced. The present study suggests that telehealth use is beneficial during active resuscitation efforts.