Evaluating Complex Technological Innovations in Critical Care

The benefits of the intensive care unit (ICU) for delivering high-quality care and improving survival for critically ill patients are primarily due to the people who work there—the specialized physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals who comprise the interprofessional critical care team. Yet, over the last century, the field is increasingly defined not by people, but by technology—mechanical ventilators, invasive monitors, and, most recently, artificial intelligence (AI) to predict outcomes and guide therapy. Although some of these technologies undoubtedly save lives, technology in and of itself is not a guarantee of better patient outcomes, as exemplified by the pulmonary artery catheter that was found to increase costs of care without improving patient outcomes.