Castleview Hospital Press Release
Castleview Hospital announced on Monday an additional service, TeleICU, as part of its partnership with Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health. This new service will extend the resources of the intensive care unit to Castleview and surrounding communities.
The agreement sets the stage for Castleview Hospital to provide intensive care via telehealth, the use of telecommunications to provide health care to patients in rural and remote areas. The TeleICU program will connect patients in the ICU to intensive care experts at U of U Health.
“We know patients and their family members don’t want to travel while dealing with health care crises,” said Gordon Crabtree, CEO of U of U Health. “Because of this agreement, the people of Castleview Hospital can receive critical where they live.”
When patients enter Castleview Hospital emergency room, providers can instantly communicate with U of U Health experts to discuss the patient’s condition, determine the best course of treatment, and decide whether a transfer is absolutely necessary. The use of videoconferencing technology allows providers at U of U Health to see the patient and provide the highest level of care and expertise.
U of U Health officials are optimistic that TeleICU will benefit both organizations in a rapidly evolving health care environment. “We want to be a resource to help residents across the state of Utah access the best care possible, no matter where they live,” said Ted Kimball, M.D., Telehealth Medical Director at U of U Health.
Greg Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Castleview Hospital, added, “The goal of TeleICU is to not only enhance intensive care at Castleview, but allow our patients to receive effective care here in Price. This program will reduce travel cost, give greater access and allow for faster recovery.”
Both organizations emphasize that the agreement does not change ownership, affect local control and governance, or restrict patient choice in providers.
Castleview Hospital has been serving surrounding communities since 1980. It is a family of approximately 400 associates, physicians and volunteers. Castleview Hospital is a 49-bed facility and includes Emery Medical Center. Its mission is to make the community healthier and provide high quality health care close to home. For more information, please visit www.castleviewhospital.net.
University of Utah Health is the Mountain West’s only academic health care system, providing leading-edge, compassionate care for the people of Utah and a referral area encompassing five states and more than 10 percent of the continental United States. The health system includes four hospitals and 12 community clinics with more than 1,400 physicians practicing in more than 200 medical specialties. U of U Health has been ranked in the top 10 academic medical centers in the country for eight years running according to the rigorous Vizient Quality and Accountability study, ranking #1 in the nation in 2010 and 2016. University of Utah Hospital is currently ranked No. 1 in the metro area rankings of U.S. News and World Report and is consistently ranked among the country’s best hospitals in U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Hospitals list.