Intensive care unit bedside documentation systems. Realizing cost savings and quality improvements.

Automating intensive care unit (ICU) documentation saves time and assists in interpreting data and planning care. The current economic climate makes the cost of ICU computer systems prohibitive for many institutions. Any expenditure without a measurable return on investment will be scrutinized carefully. The literature describing ICU computer system benefits often is difficult to interpret. No two implementations, hospitals, or benefit study designs have been the same. Each implementation has many unique variables. These variables make study comparison and replication potentially impossible. The authors have concluded that replicating previous studies may not be relevant if the goal is to justify system cost. The objective is met by designing a study that evaluates changes in data management activities as well as issues unique to the study unit or institution. The purpose of this article is to review the findings of previous benefits studies related to ICU documentation systems and to suggest other measures to support cost justification for expensive bedside documentation systems.