A human factors approach to improving electronic performance measurement of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.

Objective: In 2011, our institution developed a venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis order set to monitor prophylaxis management through physician-generated risk assessment orders. Prophylaxis rates obtained using the risk assessment orders were falsely low compared with chart review. Our goal was to redesign the order set to increase the percentage of VTE risk assessments ordered, both to improve care and to better reflect performance.

Clostridium difficile: recent epidemiologic findings and advances in therapy.

Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) has become an important public health problem. The causative organism is acquired by the oral route from an environmental source or by contact with an infected person or a health care worker who serves as a vector. Disruption of the bowel microflora, generally by antibiotics, creates an environment that allows C.