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Infection control consultation in a 150-bed acute care hospital: making this unobserved and unmeasured critical job
1Department of Infection Control & Epidemiology, RHD Memorial Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. sngsmart@comcast.net
Background:
One qualified infection control director, reporting directly to administration, was responsible for the Infection Prevention and Control Program of a 150-bed acute care, non-teaching, for-profit hospital. To observe for potential trending, questions (consultations) and determinations related to infectious processes were documented.
Objective:
To explore the possibility of measuring the essential although "hidden" function of the infection control consultation (process), which is a role not formerly linked to infection rates (outcomes).
Methods:
A 7-year retrospective study was conducted of all infection control consultations requiring more than a 5-minute intervention, as part of routine job responsibilities. The XmR Statistical Process Control charts (XmR Charts) and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze the activity of infection control consultations.
Results:
From January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2004, there were 770 infection control consultations logged for 375.1 hours. Beginning with 2003, the variation in both the number and duration of infection control consultations in the XmR Charts become more standardized and has a smaller moving range between data points. The Pearson's Correlation Coefficient shows statistical significance (P <.05) between the number and duration of consultations.
Conclusions:
Assessment of infection control consultations at this 150-bed hospital illustrates that this essential component can be measured, and should be formerly tracked to document overall assessment of infection prevention and control interdisciplinary interaction. The consultation process became more efficient over the 7-year study period because, as the number of questions increased, the duration required to achieve closure decreased.
Insights
Infection control consultations can be measured and tracked, demonstrating improved efficiency over time. This data highlights the value of tracking infection prevention and control interdisciplinary interactions.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Infection Control
- Process Improvement
Background:
- A single infection control director managed the program at a 150-bed hospital.
- Infection control consultations were documented to identify trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the impact of infection control consultations.
- To link consultation processes to infection rates.
Main Methods:
- A 7-year retrospective study analyzed infection control consultations.
- Statistical Process Control charts (XmR Charts) and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient were utilized.
Main Results:
- 770 consultations were logged over 375.1 hours between 1998 and 2004.
- Consultation variation standardized from 2003 onwards.
- A statistically significant correlation (P <.05) was found between consultation number and duration.
Conclusions:
- Infection control consultations are measurable and should be formally tracked.
- The consultation process became more efficient, with decreased duration as questions increased.
- Tracking consultations aids in assessing interdisciplinary interaction in infection prevention.
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