A retrospective evaluation of a health provider electronic health record reminder system to reduce urinary tract infections through enhanced barrier precautions in a skilled nursing facility

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are a significant concern in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Despite the effectiveness of enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) in preventing MDRO transmission, their implementation is often inconsistent in SNFs. Methods For this quality improvement initiative, an electronic health record (EHR) reminder system was implemented, along with staff education and regular audits, to increase compliance with EBP practices. Results MDRO-associated UTIs significantly decreased from 41.49% to 9.36% ( p < 0.0001). Nurse compliance with EBP throughout the intervention period ranged from 91.94 to 99.38%. Conclusions Findings highlight the effectiveness of a multifaceted infection prevention approach, emphasizing the importance of combining technology, staff training, and regular audits to improve infection control practices.