UAB has partnered with Whitfield Regional Hospital to launch the first UAB Tele-Intensive Care Unit expanded hospital. With this collaboration, Whitfield now has access to 24-hour Tele-ICU support, including a team of experienced ICU nurses and tele-intensivists stationed at UAB. The Tele-ICU allows patients to receive vital care closer to home.

Whitfield’s eight-bed ICU is monitored remotely 24/7 by the UAB Tele-ICU team to help support the bedside staff. Each room is equipped with high-definition cameras, microphones and speakers. The Tele-ICU uses computer intelligence systems that allow UAB nurses to monitor a patient’s condition around the clock and alert the patient’s bedside team to any changes that may require additional care.

“Working with UAB through conventional tele-health at the bedside over the last few years has allowed us to treat more patients,” said Doug Brewer, CEO of Whitfield Regional Hospital. “The the expansion of that program allows us to raise the level of our care with 24/7 monitoring of our ICU patients.”

In addition to 24/7 monitoring, the staff will also conduct virtual rounds on the patients each shift. The Tele-ICU nurses will review the patient’s chart, any changes to their condition and medication orders, among other tasks. The Tele-ICU also provides an opportunity for patients to receive specialized care from a UAB specialist that may not be immediately available in-house.