Technical and functional standards and implementation of a clinical information system in intensive care units

Abstract

IntroductionClinical information systems (CIS) are becoming a useful tool for managing patients and data in the ICU. However, the existing CIS differ in their capabilities and technical requirements. It is therefore essential for intensivists, as the end clients of these applications, to define the suitable minimum specifications required in order to be operative and helpful. ObjectivesThe Spanish Society of Intensive Care Medicine and Coronary Units, through its Organization and Management Workgroup, has designated a group of clinical and software experts to draft a document with the recommendable technical and operating requirements of these systems. MethodsThe group was formed by ten people supported by managers or engineers from the five principal industries producing CIS in Spain. The project involved the following phases:a)Completion of a check list. This step was considered necessary in order to establish the precise current situation of CIS applications.b)Discussion of the results by the group of experts in a meeting and in online format. ResultsThe requirements were grouped into four sections: technical, functional, safety and data management. All requirements were classified as basic and optional in order to allow the end user to choose among different options according to the existing budget, though ensuring a minimal set of useful characteristics. A chronogram for the installation process was also proposed.