Analysis and design of ICU Knowledge Management System (IKMS) for Indian environment with usability perspective

In this paper, we have proposed ICU Knowledge Management System (IKMS). Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is specialty-nursing unit for critical patients. An IKMS presented in this paper is designed with usability perspective in Indian ICU environment. This design is based on a study about the scope of ergonomic design and usability for ICU through the fieldwork at various hospitals in India. The feedback received from ICU staff, observations about ICU facilities and usage of medical equipment have been vital inputs in design of IKMS. Our research highlights the need to use such knowledge management system supported by ICU knowledgebase to assess the quality standard focusing on ergonomic design and usability of ICU. We feel that hospital administrators, academicians, researchers and equipment manufacturers will also benefit from this system. Therefore, this research work with Indian ICUs and related IKMS will prove to be extremely helpful in assessing and improving the quality and usability standards of ICUs.