A Web Enabled Health Information System for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) S. Ray ∗ , D. Dogra ∗ , S. Bhattacharya ∗ , B. Saha ∗ , A. Biswas † , A. Majumdar ∗ , J. Mukherjee ∗ , B. Majumdar ∗ , A. Singh ‡ , A. Paria ‡ , S. Mukherjee ‡ and S. Das Bhattacharya † ∗ Department of Computer Sc. and Engineering IIT Kharagpur, India 721302 Email: {dpdogra,akmj,jay}@cse.iitkgp.ernet.in † School of Medical Science and Technology IIT Kharagpur, India 721302 Email: {sangeeta}@smst.iitkgp.ernet.in ‡ Department of Neonatology, IPGMER and SSKM Hospital Kolkata, India 700020 Abstract Information Systems are needed for modernization of ICUs to deliver better health care services. EHR systems can improve the work flow management in health care delivery. This work proposes a secure web enabled system based on a multi-tier architecture for carrying out routine and special operations of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The system adopts a service oriented approach for execution of various tasks that are performed for managing NICU activities. It also facilitates decision support systems for a number of critical tasks of NICU. A prototype of the system has been installed in the neonatology department of SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, India and the staff of the hospital including doctors, nurses, laboratory personals and technicians are using it in a regular manner. 1. Introduction According to the annual report published by Na- tional Ambulatory Medical Care Survey in December 2010, trend of using Electronic Health Record (EHR) / Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems is in- creasing every year in United States [1]. EHR use by physicians has increased from 18.2% in 2001 to 48.3% in 2009 [1]. No such population based data is available for India. Institute of Medicine has defined eight core capabilities of EHR as follows; management of health information and data, result management, order man- agement, decision support, electronic communication and connectivity, patient support, administrative pro- cess and reporting and population health reporting [2]. EHR and decision support tools have led to safer patient care across the world [3]. According to a report published in 1999 by Institute of Medicine, at least 44000 patients in United States die per year due to preventable medical errors [4]. Recently, Chedoe et al. have reported that as high as 5.5 medication errors per 100 prescriptions occur that potentially threaten the safety of care in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) [5]. Lenclen et al. have reported in a survey that errors are possible at any step from ordering, dispensing, and administration of the NICU medical process [6]. To be more specific, neonates are vulnerable to medical error due to weight based drug dose calculation, metabolic and excretory difference from adults, availability of different drug concentrations in market, inability to communicate with care-givers, changing drug doses according to developmental maturity [7]. Researchers have found that such errors can be reduced by using Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) [3] [8]. EHR systems can reduce medication error in health 2011 IEEE World Congress on Services 978-0-7695-4461-8/11 $26.00 © 2011 IEEE DOI 10.1109/SERVICES.2011.38 451 2011 IEEE World Congress on Services 978-0-7695-4461-8/11 $26.00 © 2011 IEEE DOI 10.1109/SERVICES.2011.38 451 2011 IEEE World Congress on Services 978-0-7695-4461-8/11 $26.00 © 2011 IEEE DOI 10.1109/SERVICES.2011.38 451 2011 IEEE World Congress on Services 978-0-7695-4461-8/11 $26.00 © 2011 IEEE DOI 10.1109/SERVICES.2011.38 451 2011 IEEE World Congress on Services 978-0-7695-4461-8/11 $26.00 © 2011 IEEE DOI 10.1109/SERVICES.2011.38 451 2011 IEEE World Congress on Services 978-0-7695-4461-8/11 $26.00 © 2011 IEEE DOI 10.1109/SERVICES.2011.38 451 2011 IEEE World Congress on Services 978-0-7695-4461-8/11 $26.00 © 2011 IEEE DOI 10.1109/SERVICES.2011.38 451