Decision analysis: a framework for critical care decision assistance.

The ultimate goal of medical computer systems is to help clinicians make good decisions. Such systems must be based on sound principles. Decision analysis is a 25-year-old discipline that provides the needed rigorous foundation for decision assistance. Decision analysis comprises the philosophy, procedures, and tools that can correct the flaws in existing critical care decision-making practice. Intelligent decision systems--computer-based systems that automate decision analysis--make it practical to apply decision analysis to critical care. Orchestra is a pilot intelligent decision system (now under development) that coordinates the efforts of the critical care specialist, the bedside physician, and the bedside nurse in building decision models that can provide recommendations and insight for ventilator management decisions. Decision analysis delivered by intelligent decision systems has great potential for improving critical care decision-making.