Nursing information architecture for situated decision support in intensive care units

Abstract

Paper-based nursing records are yet a reality in intensive care units. Due to the amount of data that is daily produced, it can be difficult and time-consuming to find the clinical information related to the patient. Therefore, an electronic nursing record is a means to increase the heath care. Moreover, it will also embed the decision support system INTCare by guaranteeing that the necessary patient’s clinical information is rapidly available. In this paper we present a specification for the electronic nursing record to be developed in Hospital Geral de Santo António, Oporto, Portugal. The electronic nursing record will have various sources of information and its integration will be possible thanks to AIDA, an Agency for Integration, Diffusion and Archiving of Medical Information, implemented at the hospital.