Some patients at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in West Point may soon experience a new style of bedside manner. One that may seem kind of stiff, at first. But one that can take St. Francis' patients to an enhanced level of care.

It's all made possible through a new eICU partnership with Alegent Creighton Health in Omaha. The program, which takes advantage of advances in technology, connects Alegent Creighton Health's critical care physicians and nurses with doctors and nurses at St. Francis. 

Kim Sieck, R.N., Operations Director of Alegent Creighton Health's eICU program, said St. Francis is one of five Critical Access Hospitals in rural Nebraska and Iowa communities making use of the system through Alegent Creighton Health. The others are in Schuyler, Blair, Missouri Valley and Corning. The hospital in Plainview will soon come on line. FAMC in Fremont is also an eICU partner with Alegent Creighton Health.

"It's an extra layer of support for those hospitals' staffs and their patients," Sieck said. "We know those staffs are extremely busy, and with a push of a button they have access to critical care specialists here."

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