Abstract
We have studied the information flow in HDE (with special focus on the information transfer process) using data provided by a group of experienced health care professionals. A model of the information flow in HDE was built up. It postulates the existence of quanta of information (due to the artificial fragmentation of the information flow produced by the clinical working processes: organization in shifts, demand of simultaneous activities from different staff members, etc.).
This fragmentation is described by using the so-called Clinical Information Process Units (CIPUs), which correspond to patient care activities going on in parallely and serially linked blocks, performed by the staff in the specific environments. Due to a transfer in responsibility over the patient the CIPUs are linked by information transfer events which are described using transfer modules (TraMs). We exemplified 32 CIPUs related to the clinical environments (PreOp, Surgery, Recovery Intensive Care, Ward, Diagnostics, Outpatient) and the health care professional groups (Anesthesiologist/Intensivist, Surgeon, Nurse, Physician, Diagnostic Physician, Physical Therapist). A matrix was established providing the transfer situations among the CIPUs enabling a systematic classification of the TraMs. The contents of the TraMs are built up of information link elements, which are assembled according to the specific settings of the transfer situation given by the emitter, receiver and purpose.
In summary we modelled the process of information transfer in HDE through CIPUs, TraMs and information links in a way, which may be useful to design information technology applications or to reorganize the information management in HDE.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Friesdorf W. Patient-Arzt-Maschine System (PAMS). In: Friesdorf W, Schwilk B, Hähnel J, editors. Ergonomie in der Intensivmedizin. Bibliomed, 1990: 39–46.
Martin S, McClure C. Diagraming techniques for analysis and programmers. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1985.
Yourdon E. Modern structured analysis. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1959.
Kalli S, Ambroso C, Gregory R, Heikelä A, Ilomäki A, Leaning M, Marraro G, Mereau M, Tuomisto T, Yates C. Inform: Conceptual modelling of Intensive Care information systems. Int J Clin Monit and Comput 1992; 9: 85–94.
Imhoff M. Acquisition of ICU data: Concepts and demands. Int J Clin Monit Comput 1992; 9: 229–37.
Gardner RM, Huff SM. Computers in the ICU: Why? What? and So What? International Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing 1992; 9: 199–205.
Forsythe DE, Buchanan BG, Osheroff JA, Miller RA. Expanding concept of medical information: An observational study of physicians information needs. Comp Biomed Res 1992; 25: 181–200.
Friesdorf W, Schwilk B. Patient Data Management. In: Ikeda K, Doi M, Kazama T, Sato K, Oyama T, editors. Computing and Monitoring in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. Recent Technological Advances 1992: 161–75.
Kuperman GJ, Gardner RM, Pryor TA, HELP: A Dynamic Hospital Information System. New York: Springer Verlag Inc, 1991: 34–67.
McL Booth FV. Effective staff communications on a large ICU. International Journal of Clinical Montoring and Computing 1989; 6: 81–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Friesdorf, W., Konichezky, S., Groß-Alltag, F. et al. Information transfer in high dependency environments: An ergonomic analysis. J Clin Monit Comput 11, 105–115 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259560
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259560