Constructing a financial case for a computerized patient data management system (PDMS) in a cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

A number of claims are made for computerized patient data management systems (PDMS) which make them of interest to medical and nursing staff who wish to optimize patient care. Comparatively little has been published concerning cost effectiveness of these systems. In this article a financial case is put forward based on the premise that a PDMS can save nursing time, and this saving can then be translated into employing a smaller nursing workforce. An analysis of the relevant costs suggests that over an 8-year period these systems can show substantial profits, but it is also suggested that more research is required to substantiate this finding.