media:Patient Connect Report.pdf - Health Systems Institute

CS 8803 ICU Room of the Future
Patient Connect
Introduction:
The project idea came to us from our visit to the Scottish Rite children’s hospital and the
Piedmont hospital in Atlanta. After watching the ICU rooms in the hospital, it struck to us that
there were many patients who were alone in their rooms either because their family members
could not be physically present besides them all the time or because of space constraints of the
room.
Also, we read about ICU rooms and hospitals in general and it came to our attention that cameras
were being used at some places for monitoring the patients and/or for security purposes.
We decided to put such cameras to use in a very different way!
The problem domain we are addressing is patient family communication, particularly the lacks of
communication between patient and family members when family members cannot be alongside
the patient.
Family members cannot remain along patient bedside 24 Hours and this is often a case of
concern and anxiety for them because they wish to connect with their loved ones
Why do we think this problem is important? Because emotional connection between the patient
and the family members is often thought as one of the means for speedy recovery.
Every hospital has limited visiting hours to meet the patients in ICU; also there is not enough
space and furniture for family members in ICU room, which is most common reason for conflicts
between hospital staff and family members.
Family members may be out of town or may be traveling and are not in a position to see the
patient.
In some hospitals children are in ICU rooms’ right from birth for more than a year, in such cases
parents often wish to see their children even they cannot be present in the hospital
There may be case where patient is not conscious enough to start the communication with family
members e.g. patients in coma and family members may want to communicate or see patient.
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