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Implementation of a Model of Robotic Tele-Presence (RTP) in the Neuro-ICU: Effect on Critical Care Nursing Team Satisfaction

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Abstract

Introduction

Robotic Tele-Presence (RTP) is a form of mobile telemedicine, which enables a direct face-to-face rapid response by the physician, instead of the traditional telephonic paradigm. We hypothesized that a model of RTP for after-hour ICU rounds and emergencies would be associated with improved ICU nurse satisfaction.

Methods

We implemented a prospective nighttime multidisciplinary ICU round time, using RTP at our Neuro-ICU. To test for critical ICU nurse team satisfaction, a questionnaire was implemented. The primary outcome was nurse satisfaction measured through a questionnaire with answers trichotomized into: agreement, disagreement, and no opinion. The occurrence of outcomes was compared between the groups by χ2 or Fisher exact tests for the difference in proportions (PD) with Bonferroni correction for multiple pairwise comparisons.

Results

In total, 34 nurses completed the pre-survey and 40 nurses completed the post-survey. Night nurses were more likely to agree that RTP was associated with: ICU physicians being sufficiently available in the ICU (agreement 6–20 %, PD 14 %, p = 0.008), present during acute emergencies (agreement 44–65 %, PD 21 %, p = 0.007), and had enough time to get questions answered from the physician team (agreement 41–53 %, PD 11 %, p = NS).

Conclusions

This data suggest improvement in critical care nursing team satisfaction with a model of RTP in the Neuroscience ICU, particularly during nighttime hours. RTP is a tool that may enhance communication among components of the ICU team.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the effort of Neuro-ICU nurses of TJUH for their cooperation in the development of this project. No funding.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurology, Divisions of Critical Care and Neurotrauma, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA

    Fred Rincon, Matthew Vibbert & Jacqueline Urtecho

  2. Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Critical Care and Neurotrauma, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson College of Medicine, 909 Walnut Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Fred Rincon, Matthew Vibbert, Jacqueline Urtecho, Robert Rosenwasser & Jack Jallo

  3. Department of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, USA

    Valerie Childs, Robin Fry & Dennis Caliguri

Authors
  1. Fred Rincon
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  2. Matthew Vibbert
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  3. Valerie Childs
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  4. Robin Fry
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  5. Dennis Caliguri
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  6. Jacqueline Urtecho
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  7. Robert Rosenwasser
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  8. Jack Jallo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fred Rincon.

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Rincon, F., Vibbert, M., Childs, V. et al. Implementation of a Model of Robotic Tele-Presence (RTP) in the Neuro-ICU: Effect on Critical Care Nursing Team Satisfaction. Neurocrit Care 17, 97–101 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-012-9712-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-012-9712-2

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