Dive Brief:
- A new study published in the American Journal of Critical Care, found 75% of 1,213 nurses surveyed said tele-ICU tools improved care.
- The survey showed the nurses said the tools improved several key factors: Collaboration (65.9%); job performance (63.6%); completed tasks faster (63%), communication (60.4%); nursing assessments (60%); and better care by freeing up more time for patients (45.6%).
- Several specific benefits to tele-ICU tools were identified by the survey respondents: Detecting trends in vital signs; detecting unstable physiological status; enhancing patient safety; and providing medical management.
Dive Insight:
However, several barriers to the tele-ICU tools were noted in the survey: Staff attitudes; care interruptions; perceptions of telemedicine as an interference; and audio and video technical problems.
The study authors concluded the results can be utilized to help develop competencies for tele-intensive care nursing, "match the tele-intensive care nursing practice guidelines of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and highlight concepts related to the association's standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments."