A real-time ventilator management dashboard: toward hardwiring compliance with evidence-based guidelines.

Care of mechanically ventilated patients requires coordination between multiple caregivers, necessitating the availability of accurate and timely information on patient status. Researchers have documented positive effects of several interventions on the rates of developing ventilator associated complications, such as providing regular oral care and elevating the head of the bed. Informatics tools, such as electronic whiteboards, reminders, and alerts have been shown to aid in clinician compliance with guidelines or protocols. The purpose of this project was to design and implement a real-time ventilator management dashboard to show patient status with respect to elements important for ventilator management and infection prevention in the adult Intensive Care Units at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.