Use of the Learning Health System to Redesign and Implement a Clinical Decision Support System for Antimicrobial...

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health issue, and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) services in hospitals are key to addressing this. Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are vital tools that support AMS programs. Guidance MS, a CDSS developed in 2005, has been implemented in over 60 Australian hospitals, yielding positive outcomes such as reduced gram-negative resistance, decreased antimicrobial consumption, and improved prescribing practices. This CDSS was redesigned to continue to support national AMS accreditation standards and meet evolving needs in digital healthcare. The CDSS included features for formulary restriction, clinical decision support, post-prescription review, auditing, and interactive reports for feedback. This paper outlines how the Learning Health System (LHS) framework was applied to redesign, develop, implement and evaluate the updated CDSS. The LHS framework operates through iterative cycles of practice-to-data, data-to-knowledge, and knowledge-to-practice. A Learning Health Community was established, which provided input to guide system design. Key considerations for the new CDSS included a user-centred approach, interoperability with electronic medical records (EMR), and adherence to national regulatory standards for Software As a Medical Device. Following an Agile development process, the redesigned system underwent extensive testing and iterative improvements. The program was then implemented in a beta site, a large, tertiary hospital. Extensive User Acceptance Testing was conducted, with feedback and improvements incorporated into the first version release. The program was then implemented in a network of thirteen hospitals. Formal and anecdotal feedback from the project team and clinicians showed high satisfaction regarding usability, performance, clinician workflow improvement, content quality, and efficiency. The LHS framework enabled user feedback to drive rapid enhancements to the program, ensuring it met identified needs. The implementation projects provided valuable insights into workflows, enhancing project delivery and informing strategies for future application improvements and scalability. Future development will include establishing two-way integration with EMRs and mobile devices. A socio-technical evaluation will assess the program's perceived usability and usefulness, supporting continuous improvement as part of LHS methodology. A formal evaluation will assess clinical impact on hospital and patient outcomes, providing evidence to guide ongoing optimisation.The LHS is a useful framework for designing, developing, implementing and evaluating digital healthcare solutions for AMS, which continues to inform improvements, enabling provision of an effective, scalable and sustainable, digital solution.