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Patients in Mercy Hospital Southeast’s intensive care unit will now have even more experts to provide care at their bedside with the implementation of Mercy’s virtual ICU.
This fall, Mercy Southeast implemented a virtual intensive care unit (vICU) to further support its physicians and other caregivers in providing round-the-clock critical care for Southeast Missouri patients. Mercy’s vICU is a cutting-edge technology platform that uses real-time audio and high-definition video assessment capabilities for both on-site and off-site intensivists to provide expert care for patients needing critical care.
"Virtual ICU provides advanced, high-tech care directly at the bedside, enhancing monitoring and support with state-of-the-art technology,” said Dr. Naresh Agarwal, chief medical officer at Mercy Southeast. “This innovative model ensures our patients receive exceptional care here in their own community. It reflects our commitment to making Mercy Hospital Southeast a high-performing center of excellence, dedicated to serving our region with compassionate care and outstanding service."
Over the course of several months, Mercy Southeast’s critical care team, led by Dr. Rajesh Swaminathan and Dr. Muhammad Farooq, collaborated with Dr. Ashok Palagiri, vice president of Mercy virtual inpatient services, and Mercy’s virtual care team to fulfill Mercy’s promise to bring this technology to Southeast Missouri.
“The implementation and integration of Mercy’s virtual ICU at Mercy Southeast enables us to further provide the best possible care for our patients,” said Dr. Swaminathan, critical care specialist at Mercy Southeast. “The transition has been seamless, and we have had positive feedback from the entire team.”
Mercy’s virtual critical care clinicians, who are specially trained in ICU processes and capabilities, work in tandem with bedside teams to provide oversight and intervention for adult patients in the ICU. A virtual nurse is also available at the bedside to assist co-workers in finishing tasks they are unable to complete by themselves and to provide further insight into a patient’s condition.
The Mercy vICU is just one area of Mercy’s expansive virtual capabilities being brought to Southeast Missouri with plans for more virtual care support in the future.
