Tele-ICU comes to Miss. VA

BILOXI, Miss. - The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) opened its first Tele-Intensive Care Unit on Nov. 15 from its Biloxi campus. “This is a remarkable opportunity for the medical center,” said Dr. Chris Saslo, interim GCVHCS director. “We now have the ability to maximize our complexity levels of care in the ICU arena.” The Biloxi medical center operates 10 beds in its ICU. The Tele-ICU capability is a first for Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) 16, headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss. Patients will be able to see VA’s Tele-ICU licensed physicians, called Tele-Intensivists, and critical-care nurses through telecommunications or other electronic technologies, which include direct view of the patient through live audio and video feed; electronic monitoring; and chart review and consultations. Doctors will also be able to prescribe medications, order tests or procedures, make diagnoses and discuss health care with patients and family members. The nerve center of the ICU’s support service is located at the Tele-ICU at the Minneapolis (Minn.) VA Health Care System. (Source: GCVHCS 11/15/17)