Computerized reminders to improve isolation rates of patients with drug-resistant infections: design and preliminary results.
Infections with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) are a steadily increasing threat to inpatients as they move through the hospital. We constructed a computerized reminder system, integrated with existing data sources maintained by the infection control service. We tested the hypothesis that computerized reminders from a centralized infection control expert system can improve rates of barrier isolation in patients with MDROs. Immediately after institution of this reminder system, isolation of eligible ward patients increased from a baseline rate of 33% to 95% (p<0.0001). The median time to isolation decreased from 16.6 hours to 0 hours, indicating that the majority of patients post-intervention had isolation orders written prior to arrival on the ward. We conclude that a computerized reminder system can dramatically increase the clinical impact of data sources maintained by hospital Infection Control services.
Kho
Abel
A
Regenstrief Institute, Inc and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Dexter
Paul
P
Warvel
Jeff
J
Commiskey
Marie
M
Wilson
Steve
S
McDonald
Clement J
CJ
D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005103:Expert Systems; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017010:Reminder Systems; D014584:User-Computer Interface