How Rule-Based AI Reduced Hospital-Onset C. diff Through Early Detection

Before implementing rule-based AI, PIH Health struggled with early detection of C. diff symptoms. "We could not document early enough, we could not identify the necessity for testing early enough, and therefore that led to delay in treatments, delay in isolation, and that could have caused an outbreak," explains Debbie Sumantri, Infection Preventionist at PIH Health.

Now, the team's rule-based AI dashboards collect data on patients showing early symptoms and notify charge nurses and frontline staff which patients to isolate and test. The change required significant education and established communication channels to ensure staff knew how to utilize the reports and when to notify physicians.

Get her perspective on building communication with frontline staff and why collecting measurable data points is essential for facilities looking to integrate AI into infection prevention workflows.