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Web-Based Interactive Tool to Identify Facilities at Risk of Receiving Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Organisms
Abstract:
To identify facilities at risk of receiving patients colonized or infected with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), we developed an interactive web-based interface for visualization of patient-sharing networks among healthcare facilities in Tennessee, USA. Using hospital discharge data and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' claims and Minimum Data Set, we constructed networks among hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Networks included direct and indirect transfers, which accounted for <365 days in the community outside of facility admissions. Authorized users can visualize a facility of interest and tailor visualizations by year, network dataset, length of time in the community, and minimum number of transfers. The interface visualizes the facility of interest with its connected facilities that receive or send patients, the number of interfacility transfers, and facilities at risk of receiving transfers from the facility of interest. This tool will help other health departments enhance their MDRO outbreak responses.
Insights
This study created a tool to map patient movement between healthcare facilities in Tennessee. It helps identify hospitals at risk of receiving patients with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) to improve outbreak response.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare epidemiology
- Public health informatics
- Infectious disease surveillance
Background:
- Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a significant threat to patient safety.
- Identifying transmission pathways between healthcare facilities is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an interactive web-based tool for visualizing patient-sharing networks among healthcare facilities.
- To identify facilities at risk of receiving patients colonized or infected with MDROs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized hospital discharge data, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claims, and Minimum Data Set.
- Constructed patient-sharing networks including direct and indirect transfers (<365 days outside facilities).
- Developed an interactive interface for visualizing network data tailored by year, dataset, community time, and transfer number.
Main Results:
- The interface visualizes a facility's connections, interfacility transfer numbers, and at-risk connected facilities.
- Enables authorized users to explore patient flow and identify potential MDRO transmission routes.
- Demonstrates the network structure of patient sharing across Tennessee healthcare facilities.
Conclusions:
- The developed tool aids health departments in identifying facilities vulnerable to MDRO colonization or infection.
- Facilitates enhanced MDRO outbreak response through visualization of patient-sharing networks.
- Provides a scalable model for other regions to monitor and manage interfacility patient transfers.
