Information management in the daily care coordination in the intensive care unit

Abstract

This study aimed to explore intensive care shift leaders’ daily care coordination related information needs and sources of important information. Information needs were explored with a survey and sources of important information were determined through interviews. The survey response rate was 21 % (n = 20) and nine shift leaders were interviewed. The findings are that charge nurses and physicians in charge have different responsibilities and differing information needs, though, some managerial activities and information needs are shared. Shift leaders use numerous sources to obtain necessary information to support decision-making. Sources were categorized into electronic sources, human sources, manual sources and real-time events. Further, information was located within or outside the ICU or based on the shift leader’s knowledge. Information systems should be developed based on shift leaders’ information needs regardless of the source to support daily care coordination related decision-making. Shift leaders could further benefit from a real-time hospital-wide shared situational awareness.