Implementing an Electronic Device Day Count Methodology is a Valid and Cost Savings Alternative to Manual Collection Methodology

Abstract

The National Health Safety Network (NHSN) Device-Associated (DA) Module requires acute care facilities to prospectively collect device day data daily (at the same time each day) and report the sum of daily counts monthly. Device day counts can be collected manually or via electronic sources as long as the electronic counts are not substantially different (+/-5%) from the manually collected counts, during a 3-month validation period. Hospital A uses a manual methodology to obtain all device day counts daily at midnight. The manual process is time and labor intensive. The objective of this study is to determine if the implementation of an electronic device day count methodology is a valid alternative that may reduce time and labor costs. During a 3-month time period, each day at midnight, staff from nine nursing units at Hospital A manually completed a device day count sheet to obtain central line and indwelling urinary catheter denominator data. Simultaneously, each day at midnight, an automated electronic data-mining protocol, designed specifically to obtain device day counts, extracted data from the electronic medical record to report device day counts per unit. Infection Prevention staff monitored and compared the data outcomes to evaluate the validity of the electronic methodology. Labor time and costs associated with the manual data collection were recorded. Electronic methodology to obtain device day counts was a valid alternative to manual collection methodology. The results from electronic methodology were within +/- 5% of the manual collection method. Table 1 summarizes the results. Total time of manual data collection was 1333 minutes per week, which equals $56, 620 in labor costs. This study suggests that electronic data collection for device day counts is a valid alternative to manual data collection and significant time and labor cost savings may be achieved.