Emory Healthcare hospitals in Atlanta are using an electronic intensive care unit that lets physicians and nurses in Australia communicate with physicians and patients via televisions, the American Medical Association reports.
Emory launched an eICU network in 2014. The eICU team monitors critical care units at five other hospitals from its base at Emory St. Joseph's Hospital.
An independent study by Abt Associates for CMS found the system lowered Medicare spending and was linked to a drop in readmissions. However, eICU physicians started to experience burnout as they rotated day, night and weekend shifts.
That's when Emory leaders came up with the idea to have staff in Australia.
The physicians and nurses based in Australia's Royal Perth Hospital start a 7 a.m. shift as their Atlanta-based colleagues start work at 7 p.m.
The Australia team can access EHRs of ICU patients in Georgia, including X-rays and data from bedside monitors.
The concept was tested at Macquarie University's MQ Health in Sydney for six months in 2016 and tracked staff sleep cycles, mood changes, cortisol levels and overall quality of life.
Researchers are still analyzing this data, but feedback indicates the project is successful. "Everyone who has gone over has asked, 'When can I do it again?'" said Timothy Buchman, MD, PhD, Emory's critical care center director.
The program relaunched this spring and was moved to better sync time zones for staff. For the next two to three years, staff will work on eight- to 16-week rotations.
"Our foray into Australia has opened many areas of opportunity to the telemedicine experience," Dr. Buchman said.