Rush Memorial’s virtual ICU reduces transfers, boosts patient experience

Rush Memorial Hospital in Rushville, Indiana, partnered with Access TeleCare to introduce a virtual ICU system after struggling to staff an ICU full-time due to a limited number of hospitalists. This allowed hospitalists to focus on high-acuity patients without needing to transfer them elsewhere. The system uses telemedicine carts and the virtual physicians have access to the hospital’s electronic health records. Since the introduction of the virtual ICU, the hospital has seen an increase in surgeries and a decrease in patient transfers.