Computerized Alerting System Warns of Life-Threatening Events.
Year: 1986
Type: article
Abstract: Problems associated with acute patient care include 1) information overload, 2) complexity of patient data, 3) data communication, 4) delays in treatment leading to critical illness, and 5) absence of attending physicians when decisions are required. Because of their speed and information processing capabilities, computers have been increasingly employed to help overcome these problems. At LDS Hospital, a comprehensive computer system called HELP has been developed. This system acquires, stores and manages patient data, and provides decision-making capabilities. HELP's capabilities have been applied to develop a tool for identifying life-threatening conditions in patients based on laboratory test results. Once a life-threatening condition is identified by the computer, the computer sends an alert message so that appropriate treatment may be rapidly instituted. Preliminary results from our evaluation of the expert system show that it does affect patient care by increasing the number of times that patients are treated for life-threatening conditions. Patient outcome is benefited by shortening the time needed for the patients laboratory test values to return within normal limits.
Source: PubMed Central
Author: Karen E. Bradshaw
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2177692955