Continuous quality improvement in the ICU and the role of a data management system

Quality improvement may be defined as the effort to improve the level of performance of key processes in the ICU. Based on knowledge of the current level of performance and on systematic analysis of organizational aspects of the ICU, quality improvement will include the implementation of standards, the formulation and analysis of quality indicators (e.g. scores, rate of complications such as nosocomial infections) and the possible introduction of data management systems.