Patient impact Stories
How Virtual Critical Care Saved a Life
How Access TeleCare’s telePulmonology and Critical Care coverage helped stabilize a young mother for safe transfer
The Case
A young mother with type 1 diabetes became critically ill at the small hospital serving her rural East Texas community of about 14,000 residents. Her condition was deteriorating quickly, and she needed immediate critical care consultation to determine the most appropriate next steps.
The hospital partnered with Access TeleCare for telePulmonology and Critical Care services. Through this service, the on-site clinical team was able to immediately consult with a critical care specialist who joined the patient’s bedside remotely, evaluated her, and worked directly with the onsite clinical team during a rapidly evolving emergency.
The Care Plan
Access TeleCare’s telePulmonology and Critical Care physician connected with the onsite team and evaluated the patient virtually, bringing ICU-level expertise to the bedside at the moment it was needed most. Working alongside the local clinical team, the physician helped guide immediate stabilization and critical care decision-making. That access gave the rural hospital team the specialty support needed to respond quickly, manage a rapidly worsening condition, and give the patient a chance at survival.
Hear from Chief of Advanced Practice Clinicians Lauren Ingram
Access TeleCare’s teleICU model combines proactive rounding with on-demand intensivist consults to support intensive care and support bedside teams.
Access TeleCare’s virtual ICU program also includes full team integration — nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, and more — creating a collaborative environment where on-site staff learned directly from experienced intensivists.
Learn more about our programs and how comprehensive telemedicine programs can transform specialty care for your hospital.
The Result
The patient’s life was first saved at her local hospital, where immediate telePulmonology and Critical Care support helped the onsite team stabilize her at the point of care. Once stabilized, she was able to reach the receiving hospital safely, continue treatment at a higher level of care, and eventually return home to her family.
Her experience demonstrates the life-saving value of having specialty care available in rural communities when and where it is needed most. For critically ill patients, immediate access to virtual ICU expertise can help local teams make timely decisions, stabilize patients before transfer, and improve outcomes. In moments like this, specialty support at the bedside can be the difference between life and death.
