Patient-Centric Infection Risk Assessment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining infection risk in healthcare settings are inadequate as they do not account for individual patient-specific factors, leading to inaccurate risk assessments and ineffective infection control plans, resulting in significant health and financial burdens.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that assesses patient-centric infection risk factors and compares them to benchmark data, using weighting factors to derive a dynamic infection risk assessment that can be displayed graphically over time, allowing for personalized infection risk control plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a generalized infection risk formula is used to calculate risk for all patients, then the calculation process is simple and quick, but the accuracy of risk assessment deteriorates because individual patient-specific factors are not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from a uniform risk calculation approach to a personalized one. The system calculates infection risk separately for each patient based on their specific characteristics (age, comorbidities, procedure type, facility factors), rather than applying a single generalized formula to all patients. This ensures that each patient receives an accurate risk assessment tailored to their local conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the infection risk calculation into multiple components: patient-specific factors (age, comorbidities), procedure-related factors, and facility-specific factors. Each segment is evaluated separately and then integrated to produce an overall personalized risk score, allowing for comprehensive yet manageable calculation.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive patient-specific factors are considered in infection risk assessment, then the accuracy of risk assessment improves, but the complexity of the assessment process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically collecting patient data from existing electronic health records, procedure schedules, and facility databases. The risk calculation is performed automatically by the system without requiring manual compilation of factors by clinicians, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining comprehensive assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer system as an intermediary that handles the complex integration of multiple risk factors. The system serves as a mediator between various data sources (patient records, procedure information, facility data) and the clinician, performing the complex calculations and presenting results in an easily interpretable format.
3Ease of manufacture
If infection risk is assessed using historical aggregate data only, then the assessment method is simple, but the ability to provide personalized infection control plans deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by calculating infection risk assessments in advance for each patient before their procedure or admission. This allows clinicians to have personalized risk information ready ahead of time, enabling them to develop tailored infection control plans proactively rather than reactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the risk assessment adaptable and updateable. As new patient information becomes available or patient conditions change, the system can recalculate risk scores to reflect current status, ensuring the assessment remains relevant and personalized throughout the patient's care journey.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method provide for determining a patient's infection risk associated with a specific healthcare provider encounter. The method incorporates the steps of assessing infection risk factors for a particular patient and comparing those factors to a set of benchmark infection risk factors derived from historical patient outcomes data. Based on the results of the comparison the infection risk assessment for the particular patient is determined and displayed.