The Right Tools Can Help Critical Care Nurses Save More Lives

Technology has enabled hospitals to create a safer environment for patients, and has revolutionized nursing practice. Real-time automated surveillance data and documentation have streamlined care processes, and have directly contributed to improved clinical outcomes. Dashboards of key information displayed in a variety of locations throughout the hospital and even remotely, alert both caregivers and administrators to impending problems, and provide essential information for rapid responses. Such technological innovations facilitate benchmarking initiatives, and ensure that hospitals have the vital information to determine compliance with protocols and processes. The industry-wide emphasis on patient safety has served as an accelerant to the adoption and utilization of proactive automated clinical surveillance tools. Key words: dashboards, patient safety, surveillance, technology