PATIENT DATA MANAGEMENT-SYSTEMS IN INTENSIVE-CARE - THE SITUATION IN EUROPE

Objective: Computerized Patient Data Management Systems (PDMS) have be en developed for handling the enormous increase in data collection in ICUs. This study tries to evaluate the functionality of such systems i nstalled in Europe. Design: Criteria reflecting usefulness and practic ality formed the basis of a questionaire to be answered accurately by the vendors. We then examined functions provided and their implementat ion in European ICUs. Next, an ''Information Delivery Test'' evaluated variations in performance, taking questions arising from daily routin e work and measured time of information delivery. Setting: ICUs locate d in Vienna (Austria), Antwerp (Belgium), Dortmund (Germany), Kuopio ( Finland). Participants: 5 PDMS were selected on the basis of our inclu sion criteria: commercial availability with at least one installation in Europe, bedside-based design, realization of international standard s and a prescribed minimum of functionality. Results: The ''Table of F unctions'' shows an overview of functions and their implementation. '' System Analyses'' indicates predominant differences in properties and functions found between the systems. Results of the ''Information Deli very Tests'' are shown in the graphic charts. Conclusions: Systems wit h graphical data presentation have advantages over systems presenting data mainly in numeric format. Time has come to form a medical establi shment powerful enough to set standards and thus communicate with the industrial partners as well as with hospital management responsible fo r planning, purchasing and implementing PDMS. Overall, communication b etween clinicians, nurses, computer scientists and PDMS vendors must b e enhanced to achieve the common goal: useful and practical data manag ement systems at ICUs.