5 Experts are developing standards that permit communication between different manufacturers' devices. It focuses specifically on communication among bedside devices and applications, making it possible to integrate device data. The MIB was designed to automate data recording and entry from medical instruments, giving clinicians better access to device status changes such as alarms. It facilitates communication in care environments where multiple vendors' devices are mixed and matched. It's an evolving standard.
Some manufacturers choose instead to develop other device integration strategies.
Better integration makes more patient information available at the bedside. Users can trend, display, and print the data. And data from all bedside devices such as ventilators, cardiac output computers, and so forth become part of the vital signs monitoring system. References available on request.