The needs analysis phase according to Kossiakoff, Sweet, Seymour, and Biemer (2011),

answers the question of why a new system is needed and shows that such a system offers a

sufficient improvement in capability to warrant the effort to bring it into being. A clinical

problem in ICU requiring a systems redesign is the treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI) in

patients with sepsis. Such patients usually experience multi-organ failure and require blood

pressure support. The treatment for AKI is dialysis, but such patients are unable to tolerate

regular 2hr to 4hr dialysis. To address this problem, nephrologists would recommend non-stop

dialysis called continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), which allows for slower

continuous filtration and removal of fluid for better blood pressure tolerance. Performing a needs

analysis for this therapy would include determining the need, benefit and costs. In this case, there

is a high need for this therapy in ICU due to increased length of stay, and increased mortality of

patients from acute kidney injury from sepsis. The costs incurred would include the equipment

itself as well as provision of adequate training for the nurses.

Reference

Kossiakoff, A., Sweet, W.N., Seymour, S.J., & Biemer, S.M. (2011). Systems Engineering:

Principles and Practice. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.