More than 5 million patients are admitted annually to an intensive care unit in the United States, amounting to about 20% of all acute care admissions. In today’s critical care environment, clinicians are managing more complex patients and dealing with higher caseloads than ever before. And with more complex patients, comes more data on each patient in a clinician’s care.
More data can feel like a catch-22. It is providing more information into a patient’s condition yet, the volume of data can be overwhelming and may be hard to piece together to guide treatment decisions. There are tools to help make sense of data collected on each patient, putting it into an easily digestible format to help clinicians with treatment decisions. These tools allow for more focus on patient engagement and care.
We’ve compiled the top three ways to overcome some of the most prevalent challenges in critical care by using data:
1. Turn an overabundance of data into actionable insight
Less can be more when it comes to data in a critical care environment. Patients requiring intensive care are continuously monitored, producing hundreds of data points each hour. With the high volume of data generated by each patient, it can be difficult for clinicians to isolate the data that is necessary for decision-making in a timely manner.
Being able to customize the display of data for the individual patient can help with the assessment and tracking of patient condition. With a more simplistic view, clinicians can focus on the data that is relevant to a specific patient’s condition.
2. Machine Learning and AI are here to help
Advanced data analytics and AI are beginning to have a significant impact in healthcare, proving that these technologies are here to stay. These technologies have been adopted across the healthcare spectrum from administrative tasks to detecting the best course of treatment for cancer patients. The growth of AI in healthcare is projected to be an annual growth of 48% between 2017-2023.
Continuously streaming patient data from an array of devices and a variety of sources are a challenge and impedes a rapid response in critical situations. Introducing these technologies in the clinical decision-making process can help the clinician be more proactive in the recognition and treatment of changes in patient condition. These tools allow for early recognition of clinical deterioration to be discovered earlier leading to prompt interventions.
3. Utilizing workflows to provide the right care at the right time
Constant surveillance of patients to identify the need for escalated support or opportunities for weaning is nearly an impossible task for clinicians. Yet technologies like the Etiometry platform make this not just a possibility but a reality. Data can help pinpoint the readiness of a patient for specific interventions or de-escalation of support. This level of surveillance supporting patient management improves efficiency in the execution of patient care.
While data can feel like a hurdle, it is important to recognize it as a critical tool. Instead of trying to comprehend the overwhelming amount of data produced by each patient, harness it to create customized treatment plans to improve clinical outcomes. Learn more about how Etiometry can help you utilize data in your critical care setting.