NEW YORK: The four hundred and sixty-fourth entry for the seniors housing Global Awards 2016 has been received.
Virtual patient care, or “telemedicine,” has been a healthcare delivery option for decades now. In 1989, the Medphone Corporation developed the MDphone, a portable electronic cardiac treatment system for patients at risk of suffering a heart attack at home. When activated, the system dialled the associated hospital’s cardiac care unit. The user placed electrode pads on the patient, while healthcare professionals operated the defibrillator. This product brought patient care to the home, circumventing the potentially fatal risks associated with travelling to the hospital.
Despite developments in mobile communication technology in telemedicine, so far, few facilities have adapted or been developed to incorporate it. In collaboration with Mercy, Forum Studio has designed the Mercy Virtual Care Centre, the first state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the development and practice of telemedicine.
Located in Chesterfield, MO, the 4-story, 125,000 square-foot center contains no beds. Rather, it features state-of-the-art technologies that allow medical professionals to deliver quality care to patients anywhere in the world. It houses all of Mercy’s 75+ telemedicine programs, particularly SafeWatch eICU, which allows doctors and nurses to monitor ICU patients at other hospitals around the clock. Using high-definition cameras and complex monitoring technology, physicians and nurses can catch details in patients as small as pupil dilation—even miles away. These programs bring efficient specialised care to areas with limited access—particularly to rural neighbourhoods…
