The concept of intensive medicine. A systems approach of importance to medical engineers.
The paper demonstrates how planning, organizing, equipping, and running all Intensive Care Unit (ICU) should be carried out, using a systems approach, and by keeping in mind that quality and degree of overall performance is a function of effectiveness and efficiency. The interactions of the ICU with its "environment" are discussed; a method of estimating the size of the ICU is mentioned. Then, the elements determining performance are analyzed: personnel, pathophysiologic states of the patients, financial and material resources. Furthermore, the problem of goal-oriented systems synthesis is outlined and suggestions for more detailed studies on the structure of some of the "subsystems" are put forward. The paper summarizes some important consequences for medical engineering as applied to intensive medicine.