Isabelle C. Kopec, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P., Named Chair of Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Tele-ICU Committee

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s 41^st Annual Congress (SCCM) this week, Isabelle C. Kopec, M.D., FACP, FCCP, vice president of medical affairs of Advanced ICU Care®, assumed her role as chair of its Tele-ICU Committee.

“Impact of Telemedicine on Patient Safety and Quality Care in the ICU”

This role places Dr. Kopec at the helm of a committee that serves as a special advisor to the SCCM Executive Committee and Council. The Tele-ICU Committee is charged with providing recommendations that improve the range of capabilities and level of care in the intensive care unit. Those recommendations range from ICU process improvements, treatments and improving clinical performance, to providing essential information on key tele-ICU issues as this rapidly evolving aspect of critical care delivery develops.

“Tele-ICUs provide the bedside intensivists and critical care team the support they need to deliver the highest quality of care for all critically ill and injured patients in an era of critical care staffing shortages and increasing scrutiny of outcomes and practices,” said Dr. Kopec. “The SCCM Tele-ICU Committee draws on the extensive experience and tele-ICU practices of its membership, and provides educational materials for a structured, informed evaluation of the role this kind of support might bring in hospitals and hospital systems with a broad range of structures and needs.”

Dr. Kopec, co-founder of Advanced ICU Care, is a Board-certified intensivist. She was chair of the department of Critical Care Medicine for over 15 years and past president of the medical staff at SSM - DePaul Health Center in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Kopec speaks nationally about the role of tele-ICUs in patient safety and quality care outcomes. Most recently, she was a contributor on a panel of experts discussing the role of tele-ICUs in patient safety and quality during the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) webcast, “Impact of Telemedicine on Patient Safety and Quality Care in the ICU,” on January 12. Dr. Kopec’s area of focus was the use of telemedicine in the non-tertiary hospital. Dr. Kopec was a presenter at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) 2009 National Forum and was selected as one of St. Louis' "Healthcare Heroes" in 2006.

For more information about the Society of Critical Care Medicine, visit www.sccm.org. For more information about Advanced ICU Care, visit www.icumedicine.com.

About Advanced ICU Care

Advanced ICU Care provides comprehensive tele-ICU programs and consulting services, with a proven track record of improving the clinical, financial and operational performance of its hospital partners. Our consulting team brings insights gained from decades of nationally recognized ICU leadership and expertise in both bedside ICU and tele-ICU environments. Our best-of-breed tele-ICU programs combine experienced intensivist-led care teams, sophisticated telemedicine technology and a rigorous focus on evidence-based best practices to improve patient care and safety. Advanced ICU Care is the nation’s largest independent tele-ICU provider. For more information, visit www.icumedicine.com.