hand hygiene
hand hygiene
By Robert P . Lee
How Hand Hygiene Data Can Save Lives
Electronic health records ( EHRs ), connectivity , interoperability ,
AI , actionable intelligence , real-time , prospective , retrospective , etc ., are the terminology of the moment and probably the future , the result of its unlimited potential to solve our most complex problems in both business and our focus , healthcare .”
Data is the new currency in the marketplace , including the potential impact of artificial intelligence ( AI ). Focusing on hand hygiene ( HH ), how does HH data potentially save lives ? Electronic health records ( EHRs ), connectivity , interoperability , AI , actionable intelligence , real-time , prospective , retrospective , etc ., are the terminology of the moment and probably the future , the result of its unlimited potential to solve our most complex problems in both business and our focus , healthcare . What do these terms have in common ? Data should be accurate , robust , trusted , universal , common language , etc . Data is the common thread in our maize of processes and systems designed to facilitate our decisions . We see significant efforts to address our challenges in ERP , EHR , remote monitoring , home health , etc . What about infection prevention , HH data , and the potential of compliance data ?
A major challenge is the ability to automate the process of data input with the resultant digital strategy . Clinical teams can spend up to 50 percent of their time inputting data into the various systems . Can technologies such as voice recognition , scribes , automated data entry and AI analysis relieve this burden ?
What is the potential impact of the coming wave of HH technology ? We have seen the benefits of real-time location systems ( RTLS ) technology , but have you considered “ real-time location ” for your human assets ? Each human asset could have its own unique wearable sensor that provides location , time stamp and identification real-time , completely automated . Current HH technologies compile this data and translate it to HH compliance scores , accurate robust , real-time and automated .
How can an automated HH system be effectively utilized ? First , your HH data is collected real-time , simultaneously with other units , 24 / 7 , across the spectrum of care and free of the Hawthorne effect . This contrasts with a manual system such as secret shopper , limited in scope , time of collection , and requiring personnel to collect the data . Statistically , data captured in 30 seconds using technology is far more accurate and robust than a complete secret shopper engagement .
A client described its use of HH data to provide location data on physicians within a large integrated delivery network ( IDN ). By knowing their location and time with patients , they were able to more effectively schedule resources , visits and care for the patient , physician and staff . Additionally , they linked their data to a patient room audiovisual
Data is the common thread in our maize of processes and systems designed to facilitate our decisions .”
that provided the patient with the physician and staff names and titles as they entered the room .
Additionally , one company has experimented in linking its hand hygiene system to other departments like environmental services ( EVS ), dietary , lab , radiology , and others , with the goal to provide real-time data on the clinical and operational health of the facility . Imagine a facility dashboard that provides room clean status , HH compliance by room and healthcare worker , air clean status , and location status equipment for that room .
Why is it important to know your facility ’ s health ? What if this data was available in a consolidated , automated platform where you could see IDN , acute-care , non-acute care , department , unit , and individual assets , both human and technologic ? What might be the benefits ? Consider :
● Pandemic preparedness
● Contact tracing
● Performance improvement data
● Automated infection prevention and epidemiology
● Connectivity – acute , non-acute , other
● Efficiencies – improves workflow
● Patient satisfaction
● Reduction in the risk of healthcare-associated infections ( HAIs ) and antibiotic resistance
HH technology provides not only compliance but potentially a methodology to drive greater performance , efficiencies and cost savings for your business entity and , most importantly , improve patient care and facility health ( as previously defined ). Data is the new currency in the marketplace . If you have any questions or needs , you can always reach out to me directly medicaldatamanagement @ gmail . com
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 .
july 2024 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com •
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