Conversations from the other side: optimizing interactions using remote technology for critical care

Remote care has become common place and widespread. As affordability improves there has been a magnitude of increase in end users. Communication is paramount in healthcare and even more so in intensive fields like critical care and surgery. Remote technology allows geographically disparate providers and patients to interact. Unlike a bedside interaction there are certain parameters to monitor when remote communication occurs. These include technical factors, privacy, fidelity of audio and video communication, data standards, adequacy of interaction time and depth of conversation and documentation among various components. The article will identify these elements and try to trace its evolution as relevant to critical care.