On-call Neurosurgeons work around the clock covering all parts of the service. They field calls from the floor, the ICU, the ED, hospitalists, other specialists, ED physicians, community physicians, patients, and families. They make treatment decisions for inpatients and outpatients, changing pain medications, ordering scans, and moving patients into or out of the ICU. They read imaging studies and make therapeutic adjustments based on their interpretations. They provide phone consult service to outside hospitals for treatment and transfer recommendations. Very little of the Neurosurgeon’s call workload involves surgical procedures.

The non-procedural duties, however, eat up a lot of time during the day and lead to many sleepless nights. Neurosurgeons limit or cancel clinics and avoid elective surgeries when they are on call. Hospitals with only one or two staff Neurosurgeons rely heavily on expensive Locum Tenens coverage, and still may have trouble keeping their local physicians from being overworked and looking to move. ER physicians and Trauma Surgeons find their jobs made difficult by dealing with overworked and sometimes resentful staff Neurosurgeons, or by dealing with the unknown of a Locum Tenens provider.

What can be done?

eNeurosurgery provides telemedicine coverage for your local Neurosurgeons. We handle all phone calls and make therapeutic decisions just like any cross-covering on-call physician. Our surgeons review labs and imaging studies in a timely fashion. They can also interact face-to-face with on-site physicians, patients, and families via our industry-leading Mobile Telemedicine Module. If emergent procedures or surgeries are needed, our Neurosurgeon alerts the local Neurosurgeon, provides them with a peer-to-peer explanation of the situation, and coordinates the Operating Room setup while the local surgeon comes in to do the case. In addition, while the local provider is in the OR, the eNeurosurgery provider continues to answer phone calls and manage the non-operative aspects of the service so that the local surgeon can focus on the procedure, then leave the hospital knowing the patients are in good hands. Thus, the local Neurosurgeon’s time is utilized as efficiently as possible. If there are no emergent procedures, the local Neurosurgeon receives no phone calls. After a brief morning sign-out from eNeurosurgery, the local provider is up-to-date and refreshed, ready to attack a full day of clinic or surgery.

How does it work?

To local nurses, physicians, and staff, utilizing eNeurosurgery is just like working with any on-call physician, except for one important difference. We don’t utilize the normal page-and-call-back system, so our physicians are reached with a direct phone call. Providers simply call eNeurosurgery and talk to the Neurosurgeon directly, without waiting. Access to the hospital data is through the pre-existing EMR and PACS systems, so there is no new system to learn, and the interactions are seamless from the local provider’s point of view. For new ED or inpatient consults, the physicians call eNeurosurgery and discuss the patient with our staff member, who then reviews the pertinent notes, labs, and images online. When the online review is complete, the eNeurosurgery provider calls the physician or nurse to ask that the Mobile Telemedicine Module be brought into the patient’s room and started. Then, via HIPAA-compliant video chat, the eNeurosurgery physician interacts with the family and/or patient, perhaps with some minor assistance from the nurse for a physical exam. In the event that intervention from the local Neurosurgeon is required, this is discussed with the family and preliminary consent and explanation performed. Then when the local physician arrives, the patient and family already have an understanding of the situation. Meanwhile, the local Neurosurgeon receives a complete peer-level briefing on the patient, and the eNeurosurgery provider does the phone work of arranging the OR and equipment to the local surgeon’s specifications. eNeurosurgery coverage does not require a large money or training commitment by the hospital.

What is "Silver Platter Service?"

The goal of eNeurosurgery is to provide high-quality Neurosurgical call coverage in an efficient and cost-effective package. Prior to providing coverage, we meet with the local Neurosurgeons, the head of the ED, the head of the Trauma Service, the ICU staff, and whatever nursing or other departments are deemed necessary by the hospital. The focus of these discussions is to determine what will make the local providers’ jobs easier, and our service can be customized to each hospital and each provider. Our direct-call system greatly speeds response time compared to the traditional page-and-call-back system. In the rare event the caller has to leave a message, we are committed to returning calls in under 5 minutes. Our staff is dedicated to call coverage, so you will not be competing for their time with social events or other clinical responsibilities. ER physicians enjoy faster response time for their consults. Trauma Surgeons appreciate how quick and easy it is to get Neurosurgery input and image review. Local Neurosurgeons can specify exactly what events they would like to receive calls or texts about, and can also specify how they would like non-emergent admissions and surgeries to be handled. Our goal is for every interaction to improve the workload of the local providers. In the morning, the local Neurosurgeons can expect to have everything handled and arranged for them, and then handed to them on a "Silver Platter".

What about security and compliance?

eNeurosurgery physicians are certified with the American Board of Neurological Surgery, and may have additional fellowships in Pediatric Neurosurgery, Spine, etc. They are individually credentialed with each hospital, either with Full Active Privileges or Telemedicine Privileges, depending on the specific hospital’s requirements. The eNeurosurgery service uses each hospital’s pre-existing EMR and PACS systems, accessed remotely. Since these systems are password-protected, encrypted, and accessed via a secure connection, HIPPAA compliance is precisely the same as for any other staff physician or locum tenens provider. The Mobile Telemedicine Module is a streamlined unit designed to provide face-to-face interaction. It is easily portable, simple to use and can be stored on a shelf or in a cabinet. These units are provided at-cost by eNeurosurgery and set up to work through your hospital’s wireless connection. The videoconferencing is fully encrypted and HIPPAA compliant. Under the HIPPAA regulations, videoconferencing is the same as telephone calls and faxes. No sensitive data is stored in any way, but is created as it is sent and disappears as it is received. In transit, eNeurosurgery software encrypts the data to a much higher standard than any phone or fax line, assuring unquestionable HIPPAA compliance.

How does this help my hospital?

Hospitals struggle to provide excellent care while staying in budget. eNeurosurgery brings you what you need. Your Neurosurgeons can handle a full elective workload without burning out, but you still get excellent trauma coverage. ED physicians appreciate the quick response of our direct-call system. Trauma surgeons appreciate the ability to get a helpful Neurosurgery consult quickly and easily, without backing up their own busy call night. Nurses feel more confident knowing that the covering surgeon is only a quick phone call away. We use 21st Century technology to make the workload easier to bear for everyone.

See how patients benefit

Your patients are the VIPs at your institution. They insist on high quality care delivered quickly. With eNeurosurgery, they get face-to-face interactions with an experienced Neurosurgeon. Without waiting for someone to drive in. Without waiting for a case to finish. Without feeling rushed by a surgeon trying to get to the OR. Compassionate, humanistic care in a modern package.

See how neurosurgeons benefit

As a Neurosurgeon you are proud of the way you take care of your patients. You refuse to compromise care, but the “extraneous” work is taking over your days and nights. Your diminishing time is squeezed between your patients, your family, and your sleep. eNeurosurgery lets you take some of that time back. Our physicians work with you to customize your service to your specifications, so your increased freedom doesn’t come at the cost of control. You tell us what you want to hear about and when. Each morning we send you a list of every interaction that took place overnight. We can provide you with a list of patients who are following up in clinic, and we will even have non-emergent cases set up and ready for you if you wish. In the event that an emergency procedure arises during the night, you don’t spend time searching for labs, films, or family members. Our Neurosurgeon calls you with a concise, focused sign-out. The patient and family have already been educated when you arrive, and you avoid all the phone calls and logistical planning needed to get a case started. After the procedure is finished, a quick phone call lets you go home while someone else writes the postop orders. Our staff are practicing Neurosurgeons just like you, so they provide you with the service they would want.

How do I find out more?

To find out more, call to speak personally with our Medical Director. We will craft options to fit your specific needs. One of our Neurosurgeons will come visit your site and sit down with each important segment of your staff. Through these conversations, we determine what specifically will make life easier for your providers. We will demonstrate the Mobile Telemedicine Module, get it set up for your hospital’s WiFi, and train your staff—although it doesn’t take much training because it is so simple. Once a few of our providers are credentialed and have completed your EMR and PACS training, we can start by covering just a week or two each month, then increase your service as much or as little as you want.

 

eNeurosurgery Telemedicine Solutions
4500 Williams Dr.
Suite 212-341
Georgetown, TX 78633

(888) 314-8912

contact@teleneurosurgery.com