Telemedicine offers a low-cost solution to spread the EPIC model to all regions in Europe and to open up new avenues for patient-centred care. Telemedical technologies have gained acceptance and shown adaptability but have, to this date, not been evaluated for palliative care consultations in ICU. However, they offer the unique advantage of enabling access to critical expertise in conditions of scarcity and in underserved areas. Telemedicine has the potential to facilitate timely communication and collaboration among multidisciplinary healthcare teams, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care.
In the EPIC trial, telemedicine serves as a vital tool for palliative care consultations, allowing ICU clinicians to access specialized expertise and support remotely. By leveraging telemedical technologies, EPIC aims to overcome geographical barriers, optimise resource allocation, and ultimately improve the quality of palliative care in ICUs.
