MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison is putting cameras, microphones and other technology in some of its intensive care patient rooms, officials said.

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Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Brunette said that cameras, microphones and secure data lines that can transmit changes in a patient's status are in the UW Hospital's Trauma and Life Support Center and will start being used next week.

Brunette said that the new technology will be used to add an extra "layer" of patient oversight. Officials will demonstrate the technology on Tuesday during a news conference.

Hospital officials said this electronic ICU initiative is the "cutting edge" of critical care medicine and they already are negotiating several contracts to offer it to multiple smaller hospitals in the region.

Experts insist the remote viewing approach is a good medicine, and, a wise investment.

Under the program, hospital officials said that a physician or ICU nurse will monitor the patient's heart rate and other vitals off-site at some office space at the Public Service Commission building on Whitney Way.

They said that should a patient's condition deteriorate, vital information will alert the off-site doctor or nurse and cameras will be turned on in the patient ICU room to monitor activity and the bedside staff.

Flanked by a small wall of computer screens, the blue tooth-equipped Dr. Kenneth Wood looks like an air traffic controller.

"This in no way supplants or takes the place of the primary care team," said Wood. "It doesn't change any of the dynamics of the people at the bedside but it acts really acts as a safety net."

Twelve beds in the UW's trauma and life support ICU are now plugged into the off site space but over the next two years banks of screens and experts will be monitoring 60 beds.

The hospital is working to contract with smaller hospitals too, as a shortage in critical care physicians grows.

The cameras will remain off when the patient is stable, WISC-TV reported.

Officials said that they won't disclose the cost of the program citing competition but say it will be built into overall patient charges and not billed as a separate cost.