Integrated Clinical Environment Manager

Interoperability and interconnectivity of medical devices in clinical environments can significantly enhance patient safety and workflow efficiency. To achieve this goal, a standards-based approach to an overall medical device plug-and-play architecture for an Integrated Clinical Environment (ICE) has been proposed by the MD PnP program. However, the process of accepting and implementing communication and interoperability standards is a lengthy process, and device manufacturers have avoided building interoperable devices primarily on economic grounds. To overcome these difficulties and start capitalizing on the potential benefits of networked medical devices, a technology is needed that would provide a communication layer for current and legacy devices, enable interoperability, and provide concrete examples of its potential benefits. LiveData together with Draper Lab and MGH/CIMIT propose to develop the MD-ICEMAN, that will facilitate the transition to a networked medical device environment and help materialize the potential benefits of a patient–centric networked system. MD-ICEMAN will use the standardization efforts as guideposts and provide a framework with metadata which describes a standard layer of capabilities for common devices and driver architecture that can be used interchangeabily. The proposed solution will focus on the Operating Room, however it will apply to the entire continuum of clinical environments.