How the e-Care Program Works

Based in an off-site center, the e-Care team of expert critical care doctors and nurses observe and communicate with patients and the bedside care teams at multiple locations by the use of advanced technology. Information such as patient's heart rate and blood pressure, blood test results, patient's medication list, and X-Rays can be sent to the e-Care staff via confidential, high-speed data lines. With the aid of computers, the e-Care staff monitors and analyzes information and are alerted to possible problems.

UW Health e-Care of Wisconsin's doctors and nurses believe that this high tech method of care will not replace the patient's personal doctors or bedside nurses but this method of care does provide additional support to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients

How the e-Care Program Affects Patient Care

The patient information that is sent by the confidential, high-speed data lines is received in the e-Care center. The e-Care staff analyzes the patient information with the assistance of the advanced technological computer systems. These systems will also alert the staff of potential patient complications.

The e-Care staff also supports the expertise of bedside doctors and nurses by providing immediate assistance in emergency situations or other circumstances when a patient's condition changes rapidly or unexpectantly and requires a medical response. While the e-Care staff does not replace a patient's doctor or nurse, e-Care staff can provide an extra level of care that enhances patient safety and helps to reduce complications.

How does the Onsite Doctors Work with the e-Care Team?

The patient's primary doctor selects the level of care to be provided by the e-Care doctors. This may range from only monitoring the patient's data to full service where the e-Care doctor makes decisions about the medical treatment when the patient's primary doctor is not present in the ICU. Regardless of the level of service, the e-Care doctors talk frequently with the primary doctors about the medical plan of care for the patients.

Who Makes the Final Decisions?

The patient's primary doctor makes the final decisions regarding the care of the patient. Due to the fact that the patient's primary doctor and the e-Care doctor discuss the medical status and treatment plans daily, the e-Care doctor may modify treatment according to the primary doctor's plan of care when he or she is not present in the ICU.

Why are Cameras Necessary?

To provide the best possible care, it is important for the e-Care doctors and nurses to be able to observe a patient when needed. To ensure privacy, cameras are turned off except when needed to check on the patient status or deliver care. When a camera is turned off, it faces the wall. When the camera is turned on, it moves to face the patient and a green light signals that it is active.

How Can One Be Sure that Private Information is Protected?

Several measures ensure that health information is kept confidential, including:

• Access to patient information is strictly limited to those with hospital authorization so a patient's health information is not released to anyone other than those providing direct medical care
• No recordings are made from any camera or microphone in the patient rooms
• Any information sent to or from the e-Care center is sent by private data lines. Any information sent through these data lines is scrambled, or encrypted, until it reaches either the e-Care center or the hospital. It is then available for viewing by physicians or nurses. Information is not sent over the Internet. 
• Physicians working at the e-Care center use a secure personal identification number as an authorized electronic signature when ordering treatments. These numbers are private and change regularly to ensure security. 
• The e-Care center itself is secured and can be access only by e-Care personnel