Providing clinicians with problem-based access to knowledge: troubleshooting pulmonary artery catheter waveforms.

This paper describes a microcomputer system for providing computer-based access to expert knowledge in the area of troubleshooting pulmonary artery (PA) catheter waveforms. The system is used by both nurses and physicians in an 18-bed medical intensive care unit. Its dominant features are 1) problem-focused access to knowledge, and 2) heavy use of graphics and images to explicate knowledge. The system is used by both nurses and physicians in an 18-bed medical intensive care unit. An evaluation protocol is in place to examine the impact of the system on clinicians' knowledge, their decision-making skills, their satisfaction with the system, and costs of orientation related to PA waveform troubleshooting.