Here to Serve You

At North Shore Health, we understand that medical care needs are unique for every patient. We are committed to provide you personalized care right here in Cook County.

Our hospital is a 16-bed critical access hospital serving all residents and visitors of Cook County. All of our hospital rooms are private, each with their own private bathroom as well as other amenities such as TV, guest wifi, recliners and a loveseat. Three of our rooms can be used when a patient requires isolation; one of these has negative air pressure capabilities.

While you are a patient at North Shore Hospital, we are able to offer you much of the same care you may receive in larger facilities, but with a friendly, community atmosphere. We are fortunate to partner with the virtual hospitalist physicians to provide the hospitalist physician coverage for all our patients.

Horizon Virtual Delivers Quality Patient Care

So how does it work? Horizon Virtual leverages state-of-the-art technology and a network of products. Their Industry-leading and reliable telehealth platform delivers timely care to our patients without lessening the patient/doctor relationship. Devices are FDA approved for patient monitoring and able to facilitate rapid clinical care. The devices offer outstanding communication and viewing capabilities with state-of-the-art cameras and audio tools. In addition, our virtual system allows a remote connection to multiple diagnostic tools for “hands-on” functions.

View the demonstration video:

The Horizon Virtual Brand Promise

In other words, their telemedicine service delivers world-class healthcare. They promise to deliver an efficient and economical solution to North Shore Health’s physician staffing needs.

Commonly Questions Asked (FAQ)

HOW IS IT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TELEHEALTH (E-CARE) SERVICES?

Other E-Care telehealth providers do not typically assume care of the patient. Their care provides a hospitalist (board-certified internal medicine physician) that is qualified to admit the patient, take orders, review X-rays, MRI’s and other labs to create a care plan. Horizon Virtual physically sees and works with patients in an effort to provide local care to our patients.

WHAT IF A HOSPITAL IS ALREADY USING AN E-CARE TELEHEALTH SERVICE?

No Worries. North Shore Health is a great example of this. They have an E-Care Service in their hospital’s emergency unit and Horizon Virtual compliments that existing service.

HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR MEDICAL RECORDS AND BILLING?

The Telehealth Hospitalist at Horizon Virtual is a credentialed & privileged physician on-staff, just like having an overnight doctor on staff. This is not a temporary service.

PATIENT DICTATION IS A HIGH PRIORITY.

Telehealth services, such as Horizon Virtual, use Dragon Dictation to provide treatment plans and to update patient records quickly and in real-time. It is very important that these notes are readily available.

HOW ARE SEND-OFFS / PATIENT TRANSFERS HANDLED?

Horizon Virtual is an independent company. They have no alliances or ties with any given association. Therefore, when a patient is not in critical need of care, they ask the patient where they would like to be transferred. If the patient does not have a preference, they follow North Shore Health’s standard protocol. If the patient is in critical need of a transfer, they transfer that patient to the nearest accepting hospital.

Our Hospital Services Include:

When your doctor determines you are in need of a multiple day medical stay to treat your illness or condition, you will be admitted as a medical inpatient. While an inpatient, you may receive IV medications, oxygen therapy, lab or imaging services, cardiac monitoring, and skilled-nursing assessment and care among other services over several days to treat or stabilize your condition.

If short-term assessment and treatment is needed, you may be admitted to an observation stay. Observational care allows the attending physician the ability to assess, treat, or rule-out concerns related your condition over a brief stay.

If the doctor determines that acute care is no longer needed, but you require some additional skilled services before you are ready to go home, a Swing Bed stay may be recommended. A Swing Bed stay is designed to be rehabilitative or restorative in nature. Swing Bed patients often receive physical and occupational therapy, prolonged IV medication courses, complex daily wound care management, or other services. These stays are often covered by Medicare or other insurance. You will be advised as to your coverage status prior to your swing bed admission.

When you are not able to be at home safely the doctor may feel that a transitional care stay would be best to provide you with supportive care while you recuperate or be used as a stepping stone in your journey to another care arrangement. Transitional bed stays are most often private pay and have a defined goal, purpose, or length of stay. Transitional cares stays can also be prior arranged as a respite for caregivers or other planned recovery needs.  Patients receiving transitional care services may receive some physical or occupational therapy, teaching, nursing rehab, discharge planning, palliative care, or other care needs as identified by nursing assessment.

For more information, please call our Hospital Director of Nursing at (218) 387-3795.