Characteristics of U.S. Acute Care Hospitals That Have Implemented Telemedicine Critical Care

OBJECTIVES: Telemedicine critical care is associated with improved efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. As of 2010, fewer than 5% U.S. hospitals had telemedicine care, 10% ICU beds were covered. We evaluated recent implementation bed coverage rates in the United States compared characteristics without care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study 2018 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database. SETTING: hospitals. PATIENTS: None. INTERVENTIONS: MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: obtained data regarding implementation, capability (defined as ≥ 1 bed), other hospital characteristics, Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, a measure market competition based on referral regions. Among 4,396 (response rate 71%), 788 (17.9%) providing potential to 27,624 (28% total) beds. 306 regions, 197 (64%) respondent was being nonprofit (odds ratio, 7.75; 95% CI, 5.18–11.58) or public 4.16 [2.57–6.73]) for-profit hospital; membership health system 3.83 [2.89–5.08]; stroke presence 6.87 [5.35–8.81]); 1.68 [1.25–2.26]); more competitive markets ratio per 1,000-point decrease Index 1.11 [1.01–1.22]). Notably, rural access lower odds 0.49 [0.34–0.70]). Teaching status, geographic region, rurality not implementation. CONCLUSIONS: About one fifth by 2018, nearly third reported This represents substantial increase over last decade. Future expansion include that could benefit most may be aided addressing financial barriers