Integration of Patient Monitors into a Data Management System for the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

A large number of therapy-relevant decisions in intensive care medicine touch upon the results of clinical examinations and investigations from several different sources. A computer supported system that gathers and evaluates these results is now available and in the future it appears that such a system will be indispensable. The following pages will describe a data management system that ties together patient bedside monitors with laboratory parameters, work lists and other types of information. The data management system then makes this information available at the patient’s bedside without having to place a second workstation terminal at the bedside. Vital sign parameters are concurrently collected on-line and can be stored or printed at a central workstation.

Information processing is optimized through this inexpensive integration of patient monitors into a data management system for the intensive care unit. Physicians are then able to more quickly reach a decision regarding therapy. At the same time, it can also be shown that the system can relieve some of the burdens carried by the physician and nursing staff.