Experience with on-line monitoring in critical illness

Even more important than the categorical diagnosis of a disease is the physician's evaluation of the pathophysiological changes that occur in his patient. Automated systems are envisioned that will assist him in his task by providing for monitoring of physiological phenomena, facilitating documentation of clinical observations, aiding in the selection of treatment, establishing rapid communication with hospital service areas, and automatically allocating personnel and equipment. At the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research a dual program of analog monitoring and of computer processing of clinical data collected at bedside is presently under way. This system is described and some of the problems involved are pointed out.