http://mndoci.disqus.com/At the interface of science and computingenSun, 25 Nov 2007 16:26:12 -0000http://mndoci.com/2007/11/25/around-the-web-november-25-2007/#comment-1306920<p>You write about the eICU concept with a good picture of it in action and a good analogy with airline traffic controllers. You suggest that the concept [there are a number of competing applicatins such as VISICU] is expensive. Here is the real issue: If you are sick and in the ICU you should definitely be under the supervison of an experienced physician trained and certified as an intensivist. But that is often not the case today, especially at night and on weekends; but illness knows no time boundaries. VISICU and similar programs overcome the lack of intensivists because one physician can "cover" multiple ICUs from a remote location. The result is better care, safer care, less time in the ICU and hospital and lower total costs. This a one of the ways I discuss in my book the "Future of Medicine" that will mean more personalized care and safer care and since the data is all digitized from the start it can be automatically entered into the electronic medical record.</p>Stephen Schimpff MDSun, 25 Nov 2007 16:26:12 -0000