VA, DoD Launch National Telehealth Projects for Critical Care

Federal officials are partnering with several health systems and telehealth companies to develop a nationwide telecritical care network, including a separate telemedicine platform for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The US Defense Department’s Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) and Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) recently launched Phase 1 of National Emergency Telecritical Care Network (NETCCN) Project, aimed at creating a network of “virtual critical care wards” to address the coronavirus pandemic.

TATRC and METC are partnering with Avera Health, the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), UPMC, Philips, Deloitte Consulting, the Expressions Network, Unissant and the Geneva Foundation on the massive project.

“COVID-19 presents a situation where critical care resources can be overwhelmed by patient volume,” TATRC Director Col. Jeremy Pamplin said in a recent press release. “Even if enough equipment is made available, there are not enough critical care trained clinicians to manage all of the critically ill patients during a national emergency, especially in rural and austere locations. The NETCCN project seeks to deliver this capability from anywhere to anywhere leveraging our existing mobile networks.”

Among the projects being developed by this consortium is MUSC’s Portable Remote Operational Wireless Enabled Surge Specialist (PROWESS) ICU, a mobile telehealth platform aimed at offering remote patient monitoring solutions for quarantined patients and an in-patient telemedicine unit for providers.

“How we would deploy a thousand beds in a major urban center is an important component of any COVID-19 response,” Dr. Dee Ford, a professor of medicine and health sciences researcher at MUSC, said in the press release. “But equally important is how we would deploy eight or twelve beds in a rural underserved community to make sure its members are getting the support they need. We’ve been intentional about how we think through those kinds of health disparities issues.”

“If there’s another natural disaster or a pandemic, we’ll have this national critical care network available to be used by FEMA or the Department of Defense,” added David Zonies, MD, the associate chief medical officer for critical care services at OHSU, which is expanding its virtual intensive care platform to fit into the national telecritical care network.

In a separate announcement, Philips and the VA this week announced a 10-year, $100 million contract to create what they’re calling the world’s largest telecritical care program.

The partnership between the two longtime collaborators will build upon what’s already seen as the nation’s largest connected health network, serving close to 9 million veterans a year through mHealth and telehealth platforms and more than 1,700 healthcare sites. Some 1,800 ICU beds are included in the VA health system.

“VA’s relationship with Philips will help to expand and improve our tele-critical care program,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a press release. “This is particularly critical to provide Veterans access to quality health care when and where they need it and for improving their health outcomes.”

“By connecting advanced telehealth technologies, clinical data, as well as clinicians, patients and their families, Philips can help VA make virtual care a reality and deliver quality health care for one of our most deserving communities: our nation’s veterans,” Vitor Rocha, chief market leader for Philips North America, said in the press release.

The VA recently reported a surge in veterans accessing care through telehealth as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, with as many as 120,000 visits a week in March and April.