Clinical Implementation of an Automated Medical Information Bus in an Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

A system has been developed at LDS Hospital for gathering information from monitoring equipment located at the bedside in the Intensive Care Units (ICU). The Medical Information Bus (MIB) provides a generalized method of attaching patient monitoring devices to a common interface. This interface converts the unique manufacturer data communications protocol into a standardized hardware and software system. Therefore, the MIB system eliminates the need for custom connectors and software presently needed to interface such devices. The MIB interface also has the ability to “filter”, store and select information sent for inclusion into the clinical medical record on the clinical computer system. Infusion pumps, ventilators, pulse oximeters, and other patient equipment are now transmitting clinical information for use in clinical data reporting and decision making.