Information and point of care solutions provider Wolters Kluwer has announced the release of an e-book that outlines how electronic surveillance systems enable hospitals to leverage their patient data to quickly identify emerging infections and high-risk patients. Particularly timely in light of increased Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) requirements around healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), Turning Data into Action for Automated Proactive HAI Surveillance also documents the cost savings and care improvements realised by hospitals that implement automated surveillance systems.
As government agencies and private payers step up regulatory and financial pressure to reduce HAIs, many hospitals have turned to infection prevention programs. However, the time-consuming manual review of paper reports on which many programs rely cannot keep pace with reporting requirements, nor do they enable hospitals to address infections quickly enough to avoid escalating costs and penalties.
The financial advantages of a robust infection prevention program have increased substantially in the last year. CMS has linked up to 5 percent of a hospital's Medicare reimbursement to HAI and readmissions rates, resulting in a reduction in reimbursement rates at 1 in 7 U.S. hospitals last year. CMS and private payers have also tied payments to quality measures including reducing targeted infections. HAIs cost hospitals between $20 billion and $35 billion a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Turning Data into Action delineates the advantages of a robust infection prevention program supported by electronic surveillance, including quicker identification of at-risk patients, improved outcomes, better patient management, penalty avoidance and improved compliance. The e-book also introduces the Sentri7® surveillance system which enables hospitals to reduce HAI rates 15 percent – 25 percent while saving money and improving care.
