User-Centered Design of ALERT-ITS: An ICU Bed Forecasting Monitoring System

Intensive care units must proactively plan for adequate resource availability to ensure timely patient care, reducing wait times and improving satisfaction. Access to short-term bed demand forecasts and real-time capacity assessments enables hospital decision-makers to make informed, data-driven decisions. A monitoring system that forecasts bed capacity based on environmental factors can significantly enhance resource management. This paper focuses on the iterative User-Centered Design (UCD) process, with particular emphasis on the design methodology and iterative optimization of its user interface. The presented UCD approach explores how healthcare professionals envision the interface for a bed capacity forecasting system. An initial prototype, developed from preliminary research, was evaluated by twelve specialists, including healthcare professionals, senior nursing staff, and IT specialists, through three interviews. These discussions led to categorized functions and key insights. The early incorporation of diverse user feedback facilitated the creation of a user-friendly interface, enhancing the system's ability to present bed capacity forecasts and support clinical decision-making.