Effect of a multiple-site intensive care unit telemedicine program on clinical and economic outcomes: an alternative paradigm for intensivist staffing.

Objective: To examine whether a supplemental remote intensive care unit (ICU) care program, implemented by an integrated delivery network using a commercial telemedicine and information technology system, can improve clinical and economic performance across multiple ICUs.

Design: Before-and-after trial to assess the effect of adding the supplemental remote ICU telemedicine program.

Setting: Two adult ICUs of a large tertiary care hospital.