Health Information Technology

Optimize the infection prevention workflow in your facility by leveraging the technology tools you need for data analysis.

The role of technology in infection prevention and control (IPC) has increased due to regulatory requirements and the desire to secure patient health information.

Healthcare informatics and information technology provide a means by which evidence-based care bundles and infection prevention data can be effectively collected, stored, analyzed, and reported from documentation in the electronic healthcare record.

CNEs: 9

IPUs: 9

ABOUT THE COURSE

One of the core duties of all IPs is collection, analysis, and utilization of data. There are significant changes in how these data are/will be obtained, maintained, analyzed and utilized.

Most IPs do not have a background in information technology, which leaves them unprepared or inadequately knowledgeable about the technical systems that support their work. From the collection, analysis, and utilization of data to the introduction of electronic health records, increasing your technical competency improves your role and your outcomes.

ABOUT THE MODULES

Module 1: Basics of Health IT

The introductory session provides general IT knowledge that all IPs should have, including relevant key terms, the regulatory landscape that requires reporting and how healthcare information technology intersects with it. We will also provide an overview of the who’s who in your organization in IT and development.

Objectives

• Define key IT terms
• Identify who makes IT decisions in their institutions
• Define the data sources used for their surveillance and control activities
• Describe regulatory drivers of HIT priorities

Module 2: Workflow Assessment and Redesign

This presentation is focused on creating an optimal workflow for your needs. In leveraging technology and automating certain tasks, there are many ways to improve your current workflow. We will teach you how to assess your current workflow, how to frame what you want, leading to a redesign that will make your process more efficient while achieving the best results.

Objectives:

• Assess and deconstruct your current workflow
• Focus on training for new technology to enhance your trust in new systems
• Create a preferred workflow using available technology and automation
• Align workflow with other departments

Module 3: Electronic Medical Record Systems

What are the characteristics of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems? EMRs are key in evaluating data quality: How is information captured and documented? What are your data parameters and the format in which you input that data? In Module 3, we will answer these questions and teach you how to develop, implement, and evaluate best practice alerts. We will also show you how to leverage EMR technology to drive change in clinical practice.

Objectives:

• Recognize the characteristics of an electronic medical record (EMR) that make it conducive to streamlining surveillance efforts and other infection prevention workflows.
• List a minimum of four practical examples of how an EMR and EMR-based data repository (EDW) can aid infection prevention programs.
• Describe how an IC-focused EMR-based clinical decision support system can be developed and implemented.

Module 4: Electronic-Assisted Surveillance

Whether you have a team or you are the sole Infection Preventionist in your facility, you will run into challenges in quality assurance in the validation process, especially when new software has been implemented or there are changes in IT. This week will focus on the validation and quality assurance, managing missed documentation, and how to compare data across your EMR, as well as with data that goes to an external group.

Objectives:

• Manage specifics in data management
• Identify challenges with the validation process with implementation of new software
• Compare electronic medical records to what data is sent to external reporting programs

Module 5: Emerging Technology

In the first four modules, we discuss leveraging technology to enhance your workflow. In our final module, we will present new and emerging technologies that can help track and maintain important data.

Objectives:

• List existing technologies in the field of infection prevention
• Discuss various automated hand hygiene monitoring systems
• Leverage social media in detecting outbreaks and timely acquisition of knowledge
• Discuss the next frontier: prediction aimed at prevention.