Gordon Bradley D, Asplin Brent R
Department of Emergency Medicine, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, USA.
Acad Emerg Med. 2004 Nov;11(11):1206-12. doi: 10.1197/j.aem.2004.08.015.
The emergency department (ED) is a unique setting in which to explore and evaluate the utility of information technology to improve health care operations. A potentially useful software tool in managing this complex environment is online analytical processing (OLAP). An OLAP system has the ability to provide managers, providers, and researchers with the necessary information to make decisions quickly and effectively by allowing them to examine patterns and trends in operations and patient flow. OLAP software quickly summarizes and processes data acquired from a variety of data sources, including computerized ED tracking systems. It allows the user to form a comprehensive picture of the ED from both system-wide and patient-specific perspectives and to interactively view the data using an approach that meets his or her needs. This article describes OLAP software tools and provides examples of potential OLAP applications for care improvement projects, primarily from the perspective of the ED. While OLAP is clearly a helpful tool in the ED, it is far more useful when integrated into the larger continuum of health information systems across a hospital or health care delivery system.
急诊科是探索和评估信息技术在改善医疗保健运营方面效用的独特场所。在线分析处理（OLAP）是管理这一复杂环境中一种潜在有用的软件工具。OLAP系统能够通过让管理人员、医护人员和研究人员检查运营和患者流量的模式及趋势，为他们提供快速有效决策所需的信息。OLAP软件能快速汇总和处理从包括计算机化急诊科跟踪系统在内的各种数据源获取的数据。它允许用户从全系统和特定患者的角度形成急诊科的全面图景，并使用满足其需求的方法交互式查看数据。本文介绍了OLAP软件工具，并主要从急诊科的角度提供了护理改进项目潜在OLAP应用的示例。虽然OLAP在急诊科显然是一个有用的工具，但当它集成到整个医院或医疗保健提供系统的更大的健康信息系统连续统一体中时，其作用会大得多。
