Global Tele-ICU Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

Global Tele-ICU Market Outlook

The global tele-ICU market size attained a value of USD 3,268.3 million in 2024. The market is likely to grow further at a CAGR of 10.3% during the forecast period of 2024-2032 to attain a value of USD 7,175.4 by 2032, driven by the rising development of the healthcare sector across the globe.

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The Global Tele-ICU Market Likely to be Driven by Growing Geriatric Population, Increase in Chronic Diseases, Utility in Pandemic-like Scenarios, and Technological Advancements

The market for tele-ICUs (also Electronic Intensive Care Unit or eICU) is expected to be driven by an ageing population, increase in chronic illnesses and co-morbidities, challenges faced by existing ICUs, need to manage pandemic like situations, and advancements in technology and digitization. The last ten years have seen considerable growth in tele-ICUs, not only in USA and Europe, but across the globe. In the USA, there is a scarcity of intensivists, and with the growing number of geriatric patients, the demand is expected to only rise. According to analyst reports, hospitals with dedicated intensivists experienced decreased ICU mortality and average length of stay. In the USA, tele-ICU programs enabled busy hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing care for patients while reducing risk of infection and the use of personal protective equipment. However, challenges associated with ICU services underscore the necessity of exchange of health information via off-site ICU centres.

Tele-ICU refers to the exchange and use of health data from one hospital critical care unit to another through electronic communication. This enables the provision of services to several care centres (even at different locations) in real time. The tele-ICU comprises an off-site command centre with a critical care team (intensivists and nurses) in contact with patients in a remote ICU through real-time audio, video and electronic resources. This arrangement enables exchange of real time data between the bedside team and the offsite tele-ICU intensivists, detection of any patient instability and laboratory anomalies, ordering of diagnostic tests, diagnosis, and ordering of treatment or implementation of interventions by controlling life support machines.

Tele-ICUs assume great significance in a pandemic like situation, such as the COVID-19 outbreak. To begin with, tele-ICUs can facilitate patient screening and control triage into COVID units. Panic among healthcare workers can sometimes lead to inefficient triage, and the healthcare system might be overburdened by unwarranted admissions during pandemics. This can be mitigated with the help of a remote specialist. Further, professional tele-ICU staff can deliver clear instructions on the need for testing of admitted patients and act as an infection-control resource hub for bedside caregivers. A very important benefit of tele-ICU is the capacity it makes available to closely monitor patients suspected or diagnosed with COVID from distant locations while decreasing bedside staff exposure time. The tele-ICU arrangement also enables communication between families and caregivers without interrupting bedside care. Even outside the context of a pandemic, tele-ICUs may prove to be very effective and useful in augmenting restricted resources in rural areas lacking critical care expertise, and in urban zones confronted by traffic congestion.

Tele-ICU Market has Much Scope for Growth in Nations Like India

Tele-ICUs gain much significance in the context of developing nations such as India. In India, government hospital beds and ICU beds are very limited with respect to population requirements. Majority of ICU beds are restricted to tier 1 and tier 2 cities; districts and smaller towns have little to no critical care capacity. The low number of trained doctors and staff, especially those trained in intensive care, greatly compounds the problem, especially in a pandemic like scenario. In situations like these, the role of tele-ICUs could assume vital importance. The provision of tele-ICU services in distant, underserved regions could help enhance the reach and quality of medical care.

It is noteworthy that tele-ICUs are efficiently and effectively functional in major cities in India. For example, in 2021, Dr Sai Praveen Haranath (critical care expert) supervised a patient in Kolkata over a video call from the Apollo Hospitals tele-ICU command centre in Hyderabad. Diagnosed with severe lung disease, the patient was advised emergency surgery. The Apollo team arranged for the patient to be shifted to a hospital near his residence. Dr. Haranath briefed the doctors at the local hospital, and soon the patient was admitted to the critical care unit.

High Operational Costs and Weak Telecommunication Networks Might Act as Barriers

Tele-ICUs have significant potential to assist patients in need of critical care, enhance the efficiency of intensivists, and improve the quality of care provided to patients. Indeed, tele-ICUs have enabled round the clock access to critical care. However, tele-ICUs face a few challenges, including higher operational and installation costs, limited operational knowledge of staff, and weak telecommunication connectivity and resources in parts of developing nations. Nevertheless, technological advancements are enabling increased tele-ICU adoption across the globe.

Global Tele-ICU Market Segmentation

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By component, the market is segmented into:

• Hardware (further broken by type as follows)
  • Therapeutic Devices
  • Communication Lines
  • Computer Systems
  • Physiological Monitors
  • Display Panels
  • Video Feed
  • Others
• Software and Services

By type of management, the market is classified into:

• Intensivist
• Open
• Co-managed
• Open with Consultant
• Others

By region, the market is segmented into:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

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Key Industry Players in the Global Tele-ICU Market

The report presents a detailed analysis of the following key players in the market, looking into their capacity, and latest developments like capacity expansions, plant turnarounds, and mergers and acquisitions:

• Hicuity Health
• Koninklijke Philips NV 
• iMDsoft
• INTeleICU
• CEIBA Tele ICU  
• Others

The EMR report gives an in-depth insight into the industry by providing a SWOT analysis as well as an analysis of Porter’s Five Forces model.

Key Highlights of the Report