How to implement information technology in the operating room and the intensive care unit

The number of operating rooms and intensive care units looking for a data management system to perform their increasingly complex tasks is rising. Although at this time only a minority is computerized, within the next few years many centres will start implementing information technology. The transition towards a computerized system is a major venture, which will have a major impact on workflow. This chapter reviews the present literature. Published papers on this subject are predominantly single- or multi-centre implementation reports. The general principles that should guide such a process are described. For healthcare institutions or individual practitioners that plan to undertake this venture, the implementation process is described in a practical, nine-step overview.

Keywords: implementation, information systems [L01.700.508.300], intensive care units [N02.278.388.493], medical order entry systems [L01.700.508.300.695.600], operating room information systems [N04.452.442.452.600], patient data management systems, software [L01.224.900]