Research on telemedicine reported by E.T. Zawada et al
2009 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from the United States, "We evaluated the impact of a 15-hospital, rural, multi-state intensive care unit (ICU) telemedicine program. Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE ® III) scores, raw mortality rates, and actual-to-predicted length of stay (LOS) ratios and mortality ratios were used." "Surveys evaluated program impact in smaller facilities and satisfaction of the physicians staffing the remote center. Smaller facilities' staff reported improvements in the quality of critical care services and reduced transfers. In regional hospitals, acuity scores increased (retention of sicker patients) while raw mortality was the same or lower. Length of stay ratios were reduced in these hospitals," wrote E.T. Zawada and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "In the tertiary hospital, actual-to-predicted ICU and hospital mortality and LOS ratios decreased." Zawada and colleagues published the results of their research in Postgraduate Medicine (Impact of an Intensive Care Unit Telemedicine Program on a Rural Health Care System. Postgraduate Medicine, 2009;121(3):160-170). For additional information, contact E.T. Zawada, Avera McKennan Hospital, Avera eICU CARE, 1001 E 21st St., Suite 300, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA. The publisher of the journal Postgraduate Medicine can be contacted at: Jte Multimedia, 1235 Westlakes Dr., Ste. 220, Berwyn, PA 19312, USA. Keywords: United States, Sioux Falls, Physiology, Telemedicine. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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