Modern laboratory techniques cannot differentiate betweenAt AVCH, the three study periods were compared: baseline with algorithm training only, the EMR intervention, and the EMR intervention with additional phone calls (EMR with phone calls). Data were abstracted from the hospital EMR.A total of 311 charts were reviewed. Adherence to the algorithm increased from 34% at baseline to 52% after the EMR intervention (p = 0.010). During the EMR with phone calls period, more tests were discontinued (87%; n = 39) compared to baseline (54%; n = 15) and EMR (54%; n = 15; p = 0.003). The HO-CDI rate ranged from 8.5 cases per 10,000 patient-days at baseline, to 7.9 during EMR, to 4.0 during EMR with phone calls (p = 0.007).The EMR and EMR with phone call interventions were associated with a significant decrease in the HO-CDI rate and an increase in provider adherence to the algorithm.
