Inova Health System just completed a full-scale exercise to simulate the eICU® response to an emergency medical situation in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. region. With concern high over surge capacity requirements associated with a potential H1N1 outbreak or terrorist-related emergency, the Fairfax-based eICU Center participated in the drill to exercise the vital role that eICU programs can play in emergency triage and management of patient population and surge capacity for the critically ill.

The September 26th drill was supported by the Northern Virginia Hospital Alliance (NVHA) to simulate how area hospitals would react in the event of a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. During the drill, disaster planning personnel posing as patients arrived at Reston Hospital Center, Mary Washington Hospital and Inova Alexandria Hospital to test the capacity of these hospitals to coordinate resources in response to multiple terrorist attacks

The drill demonstrated how advanced telemedicine programs like the Philips VISICU eICU Program can help hospitals deal with a large surge in trauma patients by isolating and centralizing critical specialist resources away from the source of viruses and dangerous conditions that may be causing the crisis.

"The eICU Program enables remote access to intensivists and trauma surgeons outside the area of emergency impact," said Zachary Corrigan, Executive Director of NVHA. "Using the eCareMobile units with remote monitoring from the eICU Center, we can take full advantage of off-duty surgeons to help triage and stabilize patients while prioritizing those most in need of transfer.

"During a disaster, a trauma patient may not be able to transfer to a Level 1 Trauma Centers due to surge capacity or transportation limitations," Corrigan said. "This drill demonstrated the eICU Program's ability to minimize these constraints to more effectively deal with the surge in demand."

Terry Davis, RN, Patient Care Director at Inova Health System's enVision eICU Center, noted that, "eCareMobile allows the clinical team to bring the eICU technology to areas of greatest need during a medical emergency. The eICU clinical team can provide secondary decision support, triage and physician consultation."

"During the Mass Casualty Drill," Davis continues, "we gained first-hand experience in managing the increased demand on a Level 1 Trauma center faced with a large-scale trauma emergency." Davis said, "With eICU technology, we can help manage the surge capacity demand and minimize transfers by bringing the Level 1 Trauma expertise directly to the patients."

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About Inova Health System

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova's mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.