Working in an eICU unit: life in the box.

This ethnographic study of the VISICU eICU (VSISCU, Inc., Baltimore, MD) work environment in a large midwestern health care system describes everyday life working in a telemedicine intensive care. Data were gathered through 60 hours of observation and formal interviews of eICU clinician team members. Working in the remote telemedicine center, often referred to as the "Box", is like working in an air traffic control center. Remote oversight and effective communication ensure the best possible outcomes to support the bedside intensive care unit team.