The VPICU, along with the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Evaluations (PICUEs), were exhibitors at the 4th World Congress on Pediatric Intensive Care, on June 8-12, 2003 in Boston. The exhibit featured the Virtual PICU Performance System (VPS) software, the clinical data management application developed by the VPICU and NACHRI. Intensivists were able to receive VPS software at the exhibit to use in their institutions.
Dr. Randall Wetzel and Cristina Lorenzo, R.N. of VPICU were present at the booth, as well as NACHRI’s Mary Gorman and Leslie Sedehi. All were available for information and to answer questions regarding VPS. As the booth was a collaborative effort to promote data management for the purpose of researching and improving outcomes for critically ill children, Dr. Murray Pollack completed the joint presentation by demonstrating and distributing his PICUEs program.
Conference delegates were able to view a demo of VPS, register their institution on the VPICU website, and receive a copy of the VPS software for immediate implementation upon returning home. NACHRI’s automated slide show, highlighting features such as individual hospital reporting and customization of fields, was an excellent method for delegates to familiarize themselves with the database. Opportunities for hands-on navigation were available through one-on-one demos of an existing database containing blinded patient information.
By registering with VPICU, facilities have an opportunity to include their ICU in an online, searchable database. Registered users provide pertinent facility specific information to the virtual public, including contact and marketing information such as average length of stay, services provided and the names of the ICU director and attendings.
The opportunity to obtain free VPC software is extended on-line via the VPICU website, as well as the invitation to apply for participation in full data management services. Dr. Pollack distributed a two-month free trial of PICUEs as well. There is an export feature in VPS to permit PICUes data transfer. Users of both systems avoid redundancy in data entry. Institutions using VPS have an option of using either PIM or PRISM II as a method of measuring standardized PICU mortality ratios.
The visibility VPS gained at the conference benefited the goals of the project, one of which is to increase participation. There was a great deal of interest in VPS from both domestic and international attendees. Delegates unfamiliar with VPICU had the chance to learn about the project and register their PICU. Dr. Wetzel and Dr. Pollack attracted old friends as well as new ones, as they crowded the booth several times during the conference to discuss the VPICU and VPS.
The exhibit was a success, exemplified by the stack of completed end user agreements and database filled with new registrants. The VPICU would like to thank all those who stopped by the booth, whether to visit, seek information, pick up freeware or register their PICU. |
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