FUTURE: Mercy develops first telehealth virtual care center

Mercy (Chesterfield, Mo., 31 hospitals) plans to open what is billed as the world’s first virtual care center in Chesterfield, Mo., in the summer of 2015.  Staffed by 300 physicians, nurses, and other specialists, the Mercy Virtual hub will be open 24/7 and use telehealth technology to link to a far-flung network of “spokes,” smaller community hospitals, outpatient providers, and patients’ homes.  The center will also include remote ICU monitoring capability, which is already provided within the system.  Planners expect that Mercy Virtual will handle 3 million telehealth contacts over the first 5 years after start-up.

Source: Hale, T., and Moore, R. (2015, Jan.-Feb.). Mercy virtual: connects with a new model of care. Health Progress, 96(1), 13-17. Retrieved from https://www.chausa.org/docs/default-source/health-progress/mercy-virtual-connects-with-a-new-model-of-care.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Posted by AHA Resource Center (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org