Compliance with statewide regulations for communication of patients' multidrug-resistant organism and Clostridium difficile status during transitions of care

Katherine D Ellingson; Brie N Noble; Dat Tran; Genevieve L Buser; Christopher D Pfeiffer; P Maureen Cassidy; Rebecca Pierce; Zintars G Beldavs; Jon P Furuno

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2019.08.025

Compliance with statewide regulations for communication of patients' multidrug-resistant organism and Clostridium difficile status during transitions of care

Am J Infect Control. 2020 Apr;48(4):451-453. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.08.025. Epub 2019 Oct 8.

Authors

Katherine D Ellingson¹, Brie N Noble², Dat Tran³, Genevieve L Buser³, Christopher D Pfeiffer⁴, P Maureen Cassidy³, Rebecca Pierce³, Zintars G Beldavs³, Jon P Furuno⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ; Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention, Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority, Portland, OR.
² Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University/Oregon Health & Science University College of Pharmacy, Portland, OR.
³ Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention, Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority, Portland, OR.
⁴ Department of Hospital & Specialty Medicine, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR; Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
⁵ Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University/Oregon Health & Science University College of Pharmacy, Portland, OR. Electronic address: furuno@ohsu.edu.

PMID: 31604624
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.08.025

Abstract

In 2014, Oregon implemented an interfacility transfer communication law requiring notification of multidrug-resistant organism status on patient transfer. Based on 2015 and 2016 statewide facility surveys, compliance was 77% and 87% for hospitals, and 67% and 68% for skilled nursing facilities. Methods for complying with the rule were heterogeneous, and fewer than half of all facilities surveyed reported use of a standardized interfacility transfer communication form to assess a patient's multidrug-resistant organism status on transfer.

Keywords: Hospitals; Interfacility communication; MDRO; Nursing homes.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Bacteria / drug effects*
Carrier State*
Clostridioides difficile / drug effects*
Communication
Continuity of Patient Care / legislation & jurisprudence
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
Health Facility Administrators
Hospitals / standards
Humans
Legislation, Hospital
Oregon
Patient Transfer / legislation & jurisprudence*
Skilled Nursing Facilities / legislation & jurisprudence*