IT critical to fighting hospital-acquired infections, reducing costs, says GAO
Hospitals that successfully battle infection and save money in the process rely heavily on technology, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
The GAO research, titled "Health-care Associated Infections in Hospitals: An Overview of State Reporting Programs and Individual Hospital Initiatives to Reduce Certain Infections," was conducted at the request of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, headed by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).
Hospital-associated infections, often called HAIs, are becoming a growing concern as exposure to multi-drug resistant organisms, or so called-"superbugs" becomes more common," the report notes. One of the most common resulting infections is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
The GAO reviewed the efforts and practices of 14 hospitals (including several hospital systems). It visited two health systems, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Chicago and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
"Both hospital systems relied heavily on information technology to facilitate compliance with the various components of the MRSA initiative," reports the GAO.
ENH adapted its electronic medical record system to add an orange banner on the medical record screen that highlighted any patient who had been admitted until staff entered a confirmation that the MRSA test had been performed.
UPMC incorporated similar reminders in its EMR system.
In addition, both healthcare systems monitored staff compliance with targeted hospital procedures. ENH used its EMR system to measure the time it took staff to perform the MRSA test and to respond to positive test results.
According to the GAO, ENH marshaled substantial financial resources (an addition $1 million a year mostly for MRSA tests and additional laboratory staff) to bring about systemwide change on the MRSA front, while UPMC implemented incremental changes over several years with existing resources.
"Ultimately, both systems conducted analyses indicating that the increased costs of their initiatives were more than compensated for by the reduced cost of treating a smaller number of patients with MRSA infections," the GAO reported.
UPMC began its MRSA-reduction initiative with one unit, and monitored its progress for three years before expanding to other units. To meet the demand for increased MRSA testing, UPMC officials reallocated existing laboratory staff and financial resources.
UPMC officials estimate that their savings in treating a smaller number of MRSA cases were 12 to 32 times greater than the costs they incurred to test patients for MRSA and implement contact precautions.
In its report, the GAO also identified 23 states that had established mandatory HAI public reporting systems. Most have used similar approaches to their programs and most face similar challenges with funding and technology.
State and state hospitals association officials told the GAO these challenges often limited the scope of their reporting systems and the timing of their implementation.
Officials in several states reported trouble hiring and retaining the staff they needed to initiate their HAI reporting systems, sometimes for lack of funding.
How has your health system employed information technology in identifying and controlling hospital-associated infections? Send your comments to Editor Bernie Monegain at bernie.monegain@medtechpublishing.com.
