This guide provides practical approaches for implementing Anesthesia Information Management Systems to facilitate their widespread use in academic and community practice.
In Brief Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) display and archive perioperative physiological data and patient information. Although currently in limited use, the potential benefits of an AIMS with regard to enhancement of patient safety, clinical effectiveness and quality improvement, charge capture and professional fee billing, regulatory compliance, and anesthesia outcomes research are great. The processes and precautions appropriate for AIMS selection, installation, and implementation are complex, however, and have been learned at each site by trial and error. This collaborative effort summarizes essential considerations for successful AIMS implementation, including product evaluation, assessment of information technology needs, resource availability, leadership roles, and training. IMPLICATIONS: Anesthesia information management systems (AIMS) generate comprehensive and searchable perioperative clinical documentation. By describing basic concepts and practical approaches for AIMS implementation, this article may facilitate more widespread use of this valuable evolving technology by anesthesiologists in both academic and community practice.
Muravchick et al. (Tue,) studied this question.