Electronic Reminders Can Prevent Surgical Site Infection

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

Reminding patients to adhere to pre-admission regimens through email or text message reduced the risk of surgical site infections.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, simply reminding patients to adhere to their pre-admission regimens reduces the risk of surgical site infections (SSI). This regimen includes antiseptic showers with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) 24 to 48 hours before admission.

“SSI risk reduction really involves a holistic approach and the preadmission shower is an important component of that comprehensive prevention program. So, if a patient excludes one of the components in this process, the benefit of the surgical care could be affected,” said lead study author Charles E. Edmiston, PhD, professor of surgery and hospital epidemiologist, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in a press release.

“In general, getting patients to comply with this preadmission cleansing strategy is a challenge throughout health care,” Dr. Edmiston said. “While patients want to be compliant, they will often forget to fulfill this pre-admission requirement. So, that’s why we looked to new technology for a solution.  When you use a prompt like texting or emailing, you make the patient an intimate partner in the healthcare process.”

Fierce Health IT reports that the study prompted a portion of its participants to take antiseptic showers - through text message or email. Another portion was not reminded. Researchers measured compliance by testing skin surface concentration of CHG. They concluded that patients receiving electronic reminders had a greater rate of compliance than those who were not reminded.

“I think a study like this provides us with a tremendous opportunity to empower patients because it clearly makes them an intimate partner in the whole health care experience,” Dr. Edmiston said. “It’s reminding them that they are not a passive player but rather an active participant in an important risk-reduction strategy that if successfully completed can contribute to an improved clinical outcome.”