• Curra Durán, Alberto
• Pereira Loureiro, Miguel Ángel
• Rivas Fernández, Raquel
• Pereira Loureiro, Javier
• Baños Rodriguez, Gerardo
• Teijeiro Vidal, Jorge
• Pazos Sierra, Alejandro

The main objective of Intensive Care Units is to quickly stabilize patients in critical conditions. Most of the drugs are administered via infusion pumps located at the each patient’s bedside, and doctors have to make crucial decisions on the basis of vital signs provided by a series of monitoring devices. This procedure suffers from a series of flaws that could be corrected: the human factor leads to errors in the decision-making process, since not all the knowable parameters are always taken into account; often there is not enough time to analyze the situation because of stressful situations and a large number of cases to be treated; and it is not possible to continuously analyze and memorize all the generated data, particularly when working with large numbers of patients. This paper describes a system that automates the acquisition of the most significant data provided by Philips monitors with RS232 ports (with MECIF protocol), and then stores it in a database. The information is provided to the clinicians in real time through an integrated and manageable interface. This interface is very important: the doctors must receive simple and clear information and understand it at first sight. We have programmed and developed a remote control system that manages the drug-supplying pumps and is currently being tested at the Anesthesia Unit of Meixoeiro Hospital in Vigo, Spain. It improves the provided medical assistance and records the progress of each patient; as such, the specialist does not have to memorize the information and experiences a reduced stress level when making decisions on the patient’s treatment. The system also optimizes the specialist’s time management, since he does not have to move between the different boxes to access the information that is being monitored and order that drugs be supplied. We are currently working on a new module that supports an Expert System and helps the expert to take the correct decisions.