An information system for metabolic intensive care unit

The metabolic intensive care unit (MICU) is a special department where patients requiring long-term metabolic and nutritional support are treated. Parenteral nutrition is of primary importance in the MICU. The optimal organisation of many different data within the MICU, requires an information system which is computerised. However, the problem of paramount importance is data collection. To prevent data losses, we have constructed our computerised information system for MICU as the only information channel for mutual communication of physicians, nursing staff, laboratories, etc. The following modules are typical and necessary for work in the MICU: (I) module for parenteral nutrition; (2) module for enteral nutrition; (3) biochemical module; (4) drug therapy administration module; (5) clinical microbiology database; (6) nursing therapeutic module. At present we have 6-years experience of full computerisation of the MICU. According to this experience the assumption that the logical central point of medical information system must be close to the physician, nurse and patient proved to be correct. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.