الفهرس 
Introduction and historical backgroundOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Critical care is a vital hospital service and the Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) is the area where the sickest patients in hospital are treated. These
desperately unwell patients may come from the general wards, both
medical and surgical, the Accident and Emergency Department, or the
operating theatres. The staff of the critical care unit use modern high
technology organ support to save patients’ lives. Over three-quarters of
patients survive and are discharged to other wards to complete their
recovery.
In addition to the physical stress of illness, pain, sedation,
interventions, and mechanical ventilation, there are physiological and
psychosocial stressors perceived by these patients. One of the additional
factors is the ICU environment, which is also thought to contribute to the
syndrome known as ICU psychosis/delirium. Frequently reported
stressful environmental factors are noise, ambient light, restriction of
mobility, and social isolation.
The focus, therefore, is on ICU designs that provide
comfort to patients, reduce hospital acquired infections and cost
of ICU stay. On one hand the severity of the interventions
requires the utmost in technology, methodology and sterility,
while on the other hand, the patients and their families who are
experiencing some of the most traumatic moments of their lives
need a natural feel and look environment that is comforting and
de-stressing.
The level of staffing also depends on the type of hospital. A large
hospital ICU requires a large team of people. An increase in the number
of complex and/or elderly patients and participation in multicenter
research projects require suitable training of the physicians and the
nursing staff.
The quantity and level of equipment will depend on the role and
type of ICU. Equipment should be chosen by experienced intensivists, as
so often, much expensive but inappropriate or unsuitable equipment is
bought by inept or less knowledgeable people.
Patient Data Management Systems (PDMS) have traditionally
formed the amalgam between the patient monitoring system and hospital
information system. A PDMS automatically collects and stores vital
parameters from the patient monitor, provides a digital patient chart and
is often considered as the primary system for nurses and physicians in the
intensive care setting.
Data should be collected and computerized so that it follows the set
guidelines and conforms to the policies laid out. It gives idea about the
caseload. Audits should be conducted regularly, the results should be
discussed, and critical incident should be reported from time to time and
should be recorded.