title: Enhancing the quality of care in the intensive care unit: a systems engineering approach.
abstract: This article presents an overview of systems engineering and describes common core principles found in systems engineering methodologies. The Patient Care Program Acute Care Initiative collaboration between the Armstrong Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which will use systems engineering to reduce patient harm in the intensive care unit, is introduced. Specific examples of applying a systems engineering approach to the Patient Care Program Acute Care Initiative are presented.
authors.affiliation: The Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tropello
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ravitz
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romig
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pronovost
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapirstein
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D013597:Systems Analysis; D014481:United States