Tele-ICU expands access to critical care, strengthening regional healthcare delivery

Starr Regional Medical Center (SRMC) today announced it is implementing a 24/7 tele-intensive care unit (tele-ICU) service at its Athens and Etowah campuses.

This service connects SRMC’s on-site ICU and Emergency Department teams with board-certified critical care physicians (intensivists) through a secure telehealth platform. This platform is operated by Equum Medical, a leader in virtual critical care services, in collaboration with Caregility, a global provider of connected care and AI-driven solutions. The tele-ICU initiative provides critically ill patients with expert, around-the-clock care without needing to leave McMinn County.

“We are bringing critical care expertise directly to our patients’ bedsides, day or night,” said John McLain, Chief Executive Officer of Starr Regional Medical Center. “By investing in tele-intensivist services and leading technology, we’re able to treat higher-acuity patients right here at Starr Regional Medical Center. This aligns with our mission to make communities healthier by delivering specialized care close to home.”

The tele-ICU program provides 24/7 access to a team of board-certified intensivists who support SRMC’s five-bed ICU. Using in-room devices, these specialists evaluate patients, guide treatment plans, and respond to emergencies such as code blue or rapid response events. They also conduct twice-daily virtual rounds with on-site clinicians to ensure timely, evidence-based interventions.

The service will expand to include five additional ICU beds following the completion of SRMC’s $12 million expansion and renovation project. This investment will increase ICU capacity to 10 beds, upgrade medical technology, and modernize existing spaces at the Athens campus.

Intensivists access the hospital’s electronic health records to review patient data and enter orders, just as an on-site physician would. Mobile telehealth carts equipped with high-definition cameras, microphones, speakers, and monitors enable seamless two-way communication between remote specialists and bedside teams.

“Starr Regional is taking a forward-looking approach to critical care,” said Dr. Corey Scurlock, Founder and CEO of Equum Medical. “By combining our clinical expertise with Caregility’s telehealth technology, we’re ensuring that patients at SRMC receive the same high-quality ICU care available at larger facilities.”

“Caregility is proud to work with SRMC and Equum to expand access to critical care through our Connected Care platform,” added Mike Brandofino, President and COO of Caregility. “Our technology enables always-on virtual access to specialized care, empowering rural and community hospitals to deliver ICU-level services efficiently and effectively—so patients can receive the care they need without leaving their community.”

Telehealth services like tele-ICU are especially valuable for rural hospitals, helping reduce patient transfers, improve care efficiency, and optimize resources. For more information about telehealth services at Starr Regional Medical Center, visit StarrRegional.com/telehealth.