Computerized Data Management and Decision Making in Critical Care

Abstract

Care of the critically ill patient places unusual demands on the practicing physician. The critically ill are usually referred to intensive care units (ICUs) and are connected to sophisticated physiologic monitoring equipment. As a result of their illness or injury, these patients are subjected to a wide variety of laboratory tests. Their therapy is complex, its timing is critical, and careful documentation is essential. The large volume of resulting data must be stored, processed, and used for clinical decision making. The tremendous growth of medical information, the demand for cost-effective care, and the need to document the justification for clinical decisions by patients, utilization review committees, third-party payers, and health care policy-makers have placed even more demands on physicians caring for the critically ill.