Researchers conducted the study at a large Australian teaching hospital. The hospital had used automated surveillance while simultaneously performing mandatory human audits for 20 minutes each day in a medical and a surgical ward. They collected data from three quarterly reporting periods in 2014 and another three in 2015.
The study shows direct human audit rates for the medical ward were inflated by an average of 55 percentage points in 2014 and 64 percentage points in 2015, which is 2.8 to 3.1 times higher than automated surveillance rates.
The rates for the surgical ward were inflated by an average of 32 percentage points in 2014 and 31 percentage points in 2015, around 1.6 times higher than automated surveillance rates.
Overall, human audits collected an average of 255 hand hygiene opportunities, whereas automation collected 578 times more data, averaging 147,308 opportunities per quarter.
More articles on healthcare quality:
New York’s sepsis treatment mandate linked to lower in-hospital mortality
US hospitals often fall short on childbirth care, USA Today investigation finds
How Catholic hospitals may restrict healthcare access for rural Americans
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
