Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
-
J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2017
Comparative StudyComparison of minute distribution frequency for anesthesia start and end times from an anesthesia information management system and paper records.
Use of an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) has been reported to improve accuracy of recorded information. We tested the hypothesis that analyzing the distribution of times charted on paper and computerized records could reveal possible rounding errors, and that this effect could be modulated by differences in the user interface for documenting certain event times with an AIMS. We compared the frequency distribution of start and end times for anesthesia cases completed with paper records and an AIMS. ⋯ For case end times, the distribution of minutes recorded with AIMS was almost evenly distributed, unlike those from paper records that still showed significant end-digit preference. The accuracy of anesthesia case start times and case end times, as inferred by statistical analysis of the distribution of the times, is enhanced with the use of an AIMS. Furthermore, the differences in AIMS user interface for documenting case start and case end times likely affects the degree of end-digit preference, and likely accuracy, of those times.
-
J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2017
Ability and efficiency of an automatic analysis software to measure microvascular parameters.
Analysis of the microcirculation is currently performed offline, is time consuming and operator dependent. The aim of this study was to assess the ability and efficiency of the automatic analysis software CytoCamTools 1.7.12 (CC) to measure microvascular parameters in comparison with Automated Vascular Analysis (AVA) software 3.2. 22 patients admitted to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit following cardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled. Sublingual microcirculatory videos were analysed using AVA and CC software. ⋯ The time required for the analysis was shorter with CC than with AVA system [2'42″ (2'12″, 3'31″) vs. 16'12″ (13'38″, 17'57″), p < 0.001]. TVD is comparable between the two softwares, although faster with CC software. The values for PVD and PPV are not interchangeable given the different approach to assess microcirculatory flow.
-
Understanding the use of patient monitoring systems in emergency and acute facilities may help to identify reasons for failure to identify risk patients in these settings. Hence, we investigate factors related to the utilization of automated monitoring for patients admitted to an acute admission unit by introducing monitor load as the proportion between monitored time and length of stay. A cohort study of patients admitted and registered to patient monitors in the period from 10/10/2013 to 1/10/2014 at the acute admission unit of Odense University Hospital in Denmark. ⋯ Higher levels of severity were related to higher degrees of monitoring, but being admitted to the surgical wing reduce how much patients were monitored, and periods with many concurrent patients lead to a small increase in monitoring. We found a significant variation concerning how much patients were monitored during admission to an acute admission unit. Our results point to potential patient safety improvements in clinical procedures, and advocate an awareness of how patient monitoring systems are utilized.