Knowledge Representation in ICU Communication

摘要

The need to improve team communication among health care providers is imperative in order to improve quality and reduce costs. Since most patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) suffer life threatening adverse events [1-2], there must be an effective and efficient communication protocol that facilitates workflow among the clinical team. In this paper, we studied the significance of communication at the ICU and ways to improve it. Through literature review, we identified and analyzed current research methods in order to locate the areas that require further exploration. Based on research methods review, we proposed our methodology to further comprehend the communication framework at the ICU which enables identifying factors that enhance and limit the communication process. This research proposes that through data collection, first hand and from literature, more communication factors can be identified. Through better understandings aim at building a knowledge base which will serve as the foundation to our long term goal of building an ontology-driven educational tool. Such a tool will be used to educate clinicians about miscommunication issues and as a means to improve it.The ultimate goal of our research is through improving clinical communication to reduce medical errors and costs and hence, enhance patient safety.