The ViCCU Project -- achieving virtual presence using Ultrabroadband internet in a Critical Clinical application --...

The ViCCU (Virtual Critical Care Unit) Project sought to address the problems of shortages of Critical Care staff by developing a system that could use the capabilities of Ultrabroadband networks so as to have a Critical Care Specialist virtually present at a distant location. This is not possible in a clinically useful way with current systems. A new system (ViCCU) was developed and deployed. Critically ill or injured patients are now routinely assessed and managed remotely using this system. It has led to a more appropriate level of transfers of patients and the delivery of a quality of clinical service not previously available. This paper describes the history of the project, its novelty, the clinically significant technical aspects of the system and its deployment. The initial results to the end of September 2004 are described.