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and automatically . It is time for hospitals to start investing in autonomous monitoring and discovering the benefits .” 2
There were many lessons learned both during and after the COVID pandemic . Our processes and systems could not keep up with the amount of generated data that required analysis and action . One example was contact tracing capabilities . How did we acquire the information ? How robust ? How timely ? This was basically a manual process with manual analytics and analysis . With technology and AI , this could have been as simple as the touch of a button , with consequent knowledge of pathogenic pathways , contact points and direction of pathogen spread , locally , nationally , and globally . As previously discussed , proactive rather reactive infection prevention could have allowed us to predict , prepare and respond more effectively .
Hand hygiene is the most effective method to prevent the spread of pathogens . Technology and AI are significant steps forward to help us move the needle . Data capture , even if incomplete is of value ; however , with more effective capture via technology and real time analysis and data directed action via AI we can take an exponential leap forward prevention of health associated infections . We are not there , and there is yet necessary analysis of AI direction to deal with its potential deficits and errors . However , there is little doubt that AI is being utilized in many areas of health care and this utilization will no doubt continue . As infection prevention is so data-based , it is clear it will provide critical value to the infection prevention community . The more data and the more interoperability of this
data , the more predictive we can be with understanding and preventing pathogen transmission .
So , I close with some final questions . Could big data , technology and AI be the answer to the hospital-acquired infection challenge ? Could digital be an alternative to a pharmacological solution , eliminating unintended consequences and side effects ? Could digital be our first line of defense when we encounter our next pandemic ?
Robert P . Lee , BA , the CEO and founder of MD-Medical Data Quality & Safety Advisors , LLC , is the senior biologist and performance improvement consultant . MD-MDQSA is the home of The IPEX - The Infection Prevention Exchange , a digital collaboration between selected evidence-based solutions that use big data , technology , and AI to reduce risk of HAIs .
References :
1 . Fitzpatrick F , Doherty A and Lacey G . Using Artificial Intelligence in Infection Prevention . Curr Treat Options Infect Dis . 12 , 135 – 144 ( 2020 ). https :// doi . org / 10.1007 / s40506-020-00216-7
2 . Singh A , Haque A , Alahi A , Yeung S , Guo M , Glassman JR , Beninati W , Platchek T , Fei-Fei L and Milstein A . Automatic detection of hand hygiene using computer vision technology . J Am Med Informatics Assoc . Vol . 27 , Issue 8 , August 2020 , Pages 1316-1320 . https :// doi . org / 10.1093 / jamia / ocaa115
3 . McGaghie WC , Issenberg SB , Cohen ER , Barsuk JH and Wayne DB . Does simulation-based medical education with deliberate practice yield better results than traditional clinical education ? A meta-analytic comparative review of the evidence . Acad Med . 2011 ; 86 ( 6 ): 706 – 11 . https :// doi . org / 10.1097 / ACM . 0b013e318217e119 .
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