Infection Prevention and Control Living Learning Network (LLN)

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  • 1.  Interfacility Patient Transfers

    Posted 05-10-2023 06:55 PM

    Hello again!

    In my jurisdiction, we are working on identifying processes to help improve communication between our hospitals, EMS/Transportation companies, and Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in general, but especially when it comes to interfacility patient transfers. We have received feedback from facilities that have patients with Candida auris (C.auris) that they were never notified by the transferring facility and its caused a lot of frustration. Some initiatives we have undertaken include forming special workgroups for our hospital infection preventionists and another separate group for LTCFs to connect and share situational awareness. We are currently, working to identify best practices for interfacility patient transfers to ensure that if patients need to be on transmission-based precautions that its communicated from Facility A-->EMS-->Facility B. I know CDC has some template forms and some facilities use a program called INTERACT. Wanted to see if anyone from the group has any best practices or insights on this that they would like to share. 

    Bernie 



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    Bernhard Kloppenburg
    Epidemiologist
    Florida Department of Health in Polk County
    Bartow FL
    (863)578-2052
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  • 2.  RE: Interfacility Patient Transfers

    Posted 05-11-2023 08:40 AM

    Good Morning,
    We are finding that our facilities are having the same difficulties with information being communicated, especially when it comes to pending labs for MDROs.  Our jurisdiction is working on an interfacility transfer form, using the CDC's form as a template.  We have 2 major hospital systems in our jurisdiction that have a way of flagging infection details in their computer systems, but the facilities do not have access to these electronic records,and rely on telephone communication and written documentation/discharge records.  We are presenting our transfer form to our hospitals and our facilities in the next 3 weeks. 



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    Janet Allen
    Massillon OH
    (330)451-1497
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  • 3.  RE: Interfacility Patient Transfers

    Posted 05-11-2023 08:54 AM

    Thanks Janet! Glad to know we aren't alone in battling this issue. Would love to hear how your meeting goes with the hospitals and learn of any challenges you experienced getting buy in from facilities. In Polk County FL, we were hoping that our various health care partners could collaborate together to create a process where our health department would play more of a facilitator role. We may end up needing to pitch different options and present to them. Ultimately, we want the intervention to be sustainable. 



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    Bernhard Kloppenburg
    Epidemiologist
    Florida Department of Health in Polk County
    Bartow FL
    (863)578-2052
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Interfacility Patient Transfers

    Posted 05-11-2023 02:50 PM

    Definitely a challenge for all levels of care. our jurisdiction has a health officer mandate that specifically calls out the use of an infection control interfecility transfer form but we still find gaps in communication. For facilities that are experiencing an outbreak, we actually have facilities send us a copy of the completed interfacility transfer form so that we know they're doing it and we can also reinforce the communication. The challenge is that we don't have capacity to police everyone in determining compliance with the order. I also think it requires a culture shift, make it a standard practice to use interfacility communication tool for every patient so that it becomes second nature almost like including a patient facesheet on a record. 



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    Munira Shemsu
    Alameda County Public Health Department
    San Leandro CA
    (510)715-9838
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