Rational use of computerized protocols in the intensive care unit

Excess information in complex ICU environments exceeds human decision makin g limits, increasing the likelihood of clinical errors. Explicit decision-s upport tools have favorable effects on clinician and patient outcomes and c an reduce the variation in clinical practice that persists even when guidel ines based on reputable evidence are available. Computerized protocols used for complex clinical problems generate, at the point-of-care, patient-spec ific evidence-based therapy instructions that can be carried out by differe nt clinicians with almost no inter-clinician variability. Individualization of patient therapy is preserved by these explicit protocols since they are driven by patient data. Computerized protocols that aid ICU decision-maker s should be more widely distributed.