Empowering Infection Preventionists Through Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)-Enabled Reporting

Session Description: This presentation provides an update on the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) progress in developing digital quality measures (dQMs) using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). We will share insights from NHSN pilot collaborations that have tested automated reporting methods. We will demonstrate what future NHSN reports will look like within the NHSN application, highlighting the use of patient-level data. A brief introduction to FHIR will be provided to familiarize participants with this healthcare data exchange standard and its importance in NHSN modernization. A key focus will be the evolving role of infection preventionists (IPs) in this digital transformation, with actionable steps an IP can take to ensure their facility is FHIR ready.

Kristi Betz

Public Health Physician, CDC/NCEZID/DHQP/SB

Kristina Betz MD, PhD is a physician and the Measure Development and Validation Unit Lead for Surveillance Branch/National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at CDC. She completed her PhD at the University of Cincinnati in Immunology and completed her Pediatrics residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. As part of Surveillance Branch, she has a key role in NHSN's transition to new data interoperability standards and has specifically worked on the development of several new digital quality measures including Healthcare-facility onset, antibiotic-treated Clostridioides difficile Infection, Healthcare-onset Bacteremia and fungemia, and Sepsis Surveillance, and oversees validation studies for NHSN.

Jennifer Watkins

Infection Prevention Consultant, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Jennifer Watkins, MPH, BSN, RN is an Infection Prevention Consultant with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Protocol and Training Team. In this role, she provides consultation and technical assistance regarding surveillance in all areas of NHSN reporting with a focus in Pnuemonia (PNEU) and the development of digital quality measures (dQMs). She has over 20 years of professional nursing experience, primarily focusing on critical care and infection prevention. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Arizona, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Russell Sage College, and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona.

Cindy Hou

Infection Control Officer, Jefferson Health - New Jersey

Dr. Hou is the Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research for Jefferson Health - New Jersey (JNJ) and an Infectious Diseases specialist. She is dually board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. Hou has expertise in sepsis, antibiotic stewardship, quality improvement, patient safety, language access, and infection control. In addition, Dr. Hou is the Chief Medical Officer of the Sepsis Alliance and a member of its Board of Directors. Dr. Hou earned an M.B.A. and M.A. from Boston University, a D.O. from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and B.S. from Yale University. She has a Certification in Infection Prevention and Control and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. Dr. Hou is a Fellow for the American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Association of Professionals in Infection Control.