leadingage
new york
TOGETHER
Using Quality Apex, a software application
that displays performance on CMS quality
measures in real time, facilities can evaluate the
effectiveness of their infection control programs.
A Data-Informed Approach to Infection
Control During the Pandemic
Susan Chenail, RN, CCM, RAC-CT, Senior Quality Improvement Analyst,
LeadingAge NY Technology Solutions, LLC
Never has the ability to passively monitor and evaluate infection control
processes been as important as during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) measures that can be used to
passively monitor infection control programs is Percent of Residents with a Urinary
Tract Infection, which reports the percentage of residents experiencing a Urinary
Tract Infection (UTI) in the last 30 days. While the measure is publicly reported on
Nursing Home Compare (NHC), the data is three to six months old – too outdated
to use to effect real change in care processes that
could influence the spread of infection. Using
Quality Apex, a software application that displays
performance on CMS quality measures in real time,
facilities can evaluate the effectiveness of their
infection control programs.
The factors that make frail elderly residents
vulnerable to a UTI can also predispose them to
other infections like COVID-19. Likewise, the clinical processes put into place to
prevent UTIs are comparable to those used to prevent the spread of COVID-19,
such as handwashing (the number one infection control intervention), use of hand
sanitizer, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, providing residents
with proper hygiene, proper handling and changing of soiled clothing, linen and
appropriate laundering practices, hydration, infection surveillance and reporting to
the Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee.
Quality Apex is a Minimum Data Set (MDS)-based analytic program that turns
MDS data into real-time quality measure rates. With this information, facilities
can evaluate their protocols and processes to determine whether modifications
or closer clinical review are warranted. For example, Quality Apex calculates a
user’s performance on the UTI measure after every upload, informing the user
of real-time data that the Infection Control Officer can use to inform the QAPI
Committee, CMS’ approved
methodology for improving
the life and quality of care for
nursing home residents.
The factors that make frail elderly residents
vulnerable to a UTI can also predispose them
Quality Apex also provides to other infections like COVID-19.
users with the ability to assign
threshold goals to measures.
By setting a threshold goal for Percent of Residents with a Urinary Tract Infection,
Quality Apex monitors and displays the results using an indicator line that tells the
user whether they are meeting the threshold or when it has been breached. With
a quick scan of the dashboard, a user will know when a closer review of clinical
practices is required, not be surprised three to six months later when improper
(See A Date-Informed Approach on page 19)
18 Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Summer 2020