In this article I will walk through typical decision-making processes within the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) related to respiratory weaning in order to highlight the key requirements associated with that area and to illustrate the importance of medical device connectivity in acute care environments as a necessary adjunct and enabler for complete documentation and clinical decision making at the bedside. 

Acquiring Medical Device Data is Key to Clinical Decision Making

Medical device connectivity in the ICU is essential to supporting a complete clinical decision support framework. While electronic medical records in and of themselves offer enormous workflow benefits, the documentation and charting systems are only as good as the data they convey.

Due diligence by care providers can be augmented by automated and validated data collection, achieved through a seamless form of medical device connectivity and interoperability that is supported both inside and outside the enterprise, and follows the patient from the home to the hospital. Yet, as we know, human beings are complex systems of systems.

Decision making in the healthcare enterprise is often made on the basis of multiple parameters and in the context of the patient presentation, setting, and specific conditions relating to the reason for hospitalization and procedures. The data used in clinical decision- making originates from many sources: devices in and around the patient, laboratory and blood tests, films, and ancillary information available both prior to and during the encounter. How often should data be collected? The assessment of clinical needs change depending on the acuity of the patient and conditions present at the point of care. Continue →