[Data management in an ICU: Experiences with ICM (Intensive Care Manager)]

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Medical Technology

Context:

• Implementation and operation of a patient data management system (ICM) in an academic teaching hospital's anesthesiology intensive care unit (ICU).
• Focus on surgical patients requiring intensive care.
• Utilized the "Intensive Care Manager" (ICM) system by Dräger Medical.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the experience with the implementation and operation of the ICM patient data management system.
• Assess the system's impact on documentation, data recording, and clinical decision-making in the ICU setting.

Summary:

• The ICM system was successfully installed and integrated into routine patient care with minimal issues.
• System reliability was high, with 99.87% availability over an 8-month period.
• Enhanced documentation detail and secondary diagnosis recording were observed.
• Organ system-specific views facilitated monitoring of organ dysfunction and treatment decisions.
• Medical report generation was well-supported by the system.

Impact:

• Improved quality and detail of patient documentation.
• Facilitated easier monitoring of organ dysfunction and supported treatment decisions.
• Streamlined the writing of medical reports.
• Demonstrated overall advantages for clinicians and patients in the ICU environment.