Improved patient outcomes:
Immediate availability of EICU team.
Reduction in morbidity and mortality.
Improved ICU matrices - ventilator days, CLABSI, CAUTI, ICU discharges.
Fresh set of eyes - lesser chance of medical errors.
Reduction in the need for patient transfers. Better community satisfaction with the physicians and the hospital.
Staffing issues:
Serious and growing shortage of ICU physicians and nurses.
Larger number of patients can be seen at the same time.
Reduction in the need for transfer to the larger hospitals resulting in improved staff to patient ratio at the larger hospitals.
Availability of intensivists at night.
Support of the primary team:
A second set of eyes for the patients.
Available to immediately respond. Especially important in settings where the hospitalists are busy with other duties in the hospital that may not let them come to the bedside on time.
Off loading of day time ICU physician resulting in improved job satisfaction and reduction in burnout.
Monetary benefits & system support:
Increased CMI revenue for the peripheral hospital by reducing the rates of patient transfers.
Increased CMI for larger hospitals by opening their beds for the more complex and sicker patients.
Maximized bed utilization.
Improved patient flow.
Standardization and implementation of best practices.