Using data analytics, physicians at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City have been able to predict surgical-site infections, one of the most common reasons for unplanned hospital readmissions, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
In addition to predicting infections, physicians at UIHC have been able to design medication and wound treatment plans to reduce the infection risk. Using predictive analytics, the infection rate for colon surgery patients at UIHC decreased by 58 percent over a two year period, ending in late 2014.
Physicians have analyzed numerous sources of data, including the patient's EMR and the specifics of their surgery, to predict the patient's risk of infection. Previously, post-operative care had not adequately accounted for factors such as diabetes, hypertension and vital sign variability during surgery, according to the report.
According to Associate CMO and Director of Surgical Quality and Safety John Cromwell, MD, UIHC hopes to use predictive analytics to make post-surgical decisions with the same precisions as the surgery itself and reduce the risk of infections.
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