Avera Health, a rural health system in South Dakota, has achieved $62 million in healthcare savings by working with the Philips eICU program.

The Avera eCare telehealth program, through the ICU, achieved results after 12 months that showcased how decision-support technology could deliver high-quality care while minimizing gaps in care.

"Avera implemented eCARE ICU to support providers in rural communities by reducing physician isolation and improving the collaboration of providers," said Deanna Larson, CEO of Avera eCARE. "Implementing Philips' eICU program helped our organization transform how we provide critical care while simultaneously reducing healthcare costs. The program ensures the most critical patients are continuously monitored, by leveraging the utilization of telehealth specialists to evaluate and alert bedside providers of the patients' condition."

Patients in rural areas face increasing difficulties accessing personalized care in a timely manner. By leveraging telehealth technology, Avera was able to increase access by providing the bedside team with expert guidance and continuous monitoring to critically ill patients. Since implementing the Philips eICU program, Avera eCare has reduced length of ICU stay, mortality, cost of care and clinical burnout. Additionally, they were able to save $62 million in healthcare costs, a total of 11,000 ICU bed days and 260 lives.

"With the current shift to value-based care, it's critical for healthcare organizations to prioritize both quality of care and cost containment. Achieving this double aim can be especially challenging for rural health systems with limited resources and specialty access," said Christine Storm, business leader at eICU, Philips. "The impressive clinical and financial outcomes Avera has achieved through their eCARE ICU program reveal how connected technology and remote monitoring programs can not only improve clinical outcomes, but also help rural populations get the personalized care they need, when they need it."