Tele-ICU at Newport Hospital

Hicuity Health is the nation’s largest provider of tele-ICU services. Its intensivist-led team provides around-the-clock care to critically ill patients, operating from centralized operation centers that are electronically connected to receive feeds of real-time patient data. Connected by audio/video in each patient room, they work in collaboration with the ICU bedside team and in partnership with the hospital physicians.

No. There is no additional cost for the tele-ICU service.

No. A key benefit of Newport Hospital’s partnership with Hicuity Health is knowing that patients are being vigilantly monitored simultaneously by experienced providers from Hicuity as well as Newport’s in-person bedside team. This partnership provides added intensive care support and expertise.

The tele-ICU providers and nurses will monitor the patient’s vital signs, lab results and test results, and visually check in on them (through the camera) to support their bedside team. Patients will be alerted with a bell sound before the camera turns on.

The Hicuity Health team provides around-the-clock care to critically ill patients, operating from centralized operation centers that are electronically connected to receive feeds of real-time patient data. Connected by audio/video in each ICU patient room, the Hicuity team works in collaboration with the Newport Hospital bedside team.

The Hicuity Health team works to accomplish four goals:

1. Ensure that patient care issues are identified and acted upon urgently.
2. Ensure that the provider’s care plan for the patient is carried out.
3. Work collaboratively with the bedside care team.
4. Consistently implement best practices designed to deliver high-quality care.

No. Use of a privacy indicator is always available. The bedside nurse can contact Hicuity to activate the privacy indicator. Video sessions are never recorded.

Between the hours of 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. a doorbell will ring when the camera is activated. Camera assessments occur throughout the day and night, but there will be no sound between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. When the tele-ICU camera is off, it is facing away from the patient and pointing toward the wall. The camera does not turn on without a bedside nurse present.

Because of zoom capability, the Hicuity Health providers may not see a person upon entering the room. However, visitors are encouraged to say hello. The camera is facing away when not performing a video assessment.

The Newport Hospital care team maintains primary responsibility for the patient’s care, including an in-person physician who remains the attending physician of record.

It is clear from the medical literature that 24/7 monitoring of patients by providers in the ICU results in better patient care and reduces complications. To support the current staff at Newport Hospital, we have partnered with Hicuity Health to provide an added layer of qualified healthcare monitoring.