Informatics Applications in Neonatology

Clinical Care

An informatics approach has much to offer in terms of both efficiency and clinical safety. Firstly, it may serve as a web-based resource or repository for information. Secondly, it can provide web-based tools, such as drug calculators or nomograms, which aid the clinician with procedures such as estimation of length of insertion of catheters or endotracheal tubes ^{2, 3}. Thirdly, informatics may include the provision of a portal or web-based interface with other applications giving up-to-date access to clinical information stored elsewhere such as radiology, lab results, and clinical documents. Fourthly, data from physiological monitoring can be analyzed, albeit largely after a clinical event requiring review. Finally once data has been collected it can then be used to generate an automated discharge summary that includes physiological parameters, radiology and laboratory results, as well as clinical information.

In the screenshot above, an example is given of the clinical workstation interface in place in our institution. The menu to the left provides the user with access to clinical information for specific patients (Figure 1). Electronic results can be “signed off” by the clinician once the results have been acknowledged or acted on. Other results, such as radiology reports, can also be viewed. Radiology images can be viewed directly for this patient by choosing the logo resembling an x-ray of the hand. Similarly, the electronic clinical record used within our institution can be accessed directly through this interface. The triangle logo with an exclamation mark alerts the user to the presence of important specific information such as a drug reaction, child protection issues, or infection with an organism that may have infection control implications. (Figure 2 and Figure 3)

Figure 1.

Clinical workstation interface in our institution