A new era in the ICU: the case for telemedicine.

Management of the patient in the intensive care unit requires constant vigilance and monitoring. The nursing staff, and physicians must be readily available to alter therapy in response to adverse physiological changes and life-threatening events. In the face of limited staffing and overwhelming workloads, telemedicine has become a mainstay in ensuring safety for the critically ill patient. Nurses must respond to the challenge to utilize every aspect of this technology, and to become an active partner in improving the utilization of this tool for accessing physician interface and ensuring support when decision-making and immediate actions are required for optimum clinical outcomes.