A knowledge-based care protocol system for ICU

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Intensive Care Medicine

Background:

• Growing interest in care maps within Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
• Current focus on critical paths, problem/outcome identification, and variance reporting for specific diagnoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a conceptual design for a knowledge-based care protocol system for ICUs.
• To develop a bedside charting and decision-support tool for caregivers.

Main Methods:

• Based on a manual care map for myocardial infarction management.
• Utilizes expert rules, object schemas, case-based reasoning, and quantitative models for knowledge.
• Includes a decision model linking outcomes, processes, and measures.

Main Results:

• A prototype system is under development using Visual Basic, Level-Expert Object, and xBase.
• Planned clinical trial to evaluate the system's impact on patient length of stay.
• System intended for charting by acknowledgment, alert generation, variance critique, and intervention recommendations.

Conclusions:

• The knowledge-based care protocol system aims to enhance ICU care delivery.
• Potential to reduce length of stay for patients with myocardial infarction.
• The system serves as a decision-support tool for clinical practice.