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Summary
The article Patient Referral Patterns and the Spread of Hospital-Acquired Infections through National Healthcare Networks by Donker, Wallinga, and Grundmann (2010) investigates the contentious issue of health acquired infections. The goal is to show how the infections are spread across national healthcare networks due to referrals from hospitals. The research, which was focused on the Dutch national healthcare network, seeks to determine whether their referrals between hospitals determine or influence the rate of infections in the hospitals concerning diseases such as MRSA. By utilizing the therapeutic listing proceedings of 2004 to determine the interconnectedness of health facilities, the research determines the flow and exchange of patients across and between hospitals and categories of hospitals. The research finds that university health centers have advanced joint patients relative to coaching and universal health facilities. Further, college health facilities have a superior pervasiveness for hospital-acquired diseases since health care systems and recommendations are directional towards the college health facilities. In essence, the research finds that the rate of hospital-acquired infections correlates with the ranks and level of the hospital in the network and hence the need for hospital-to-hospital comparisons in terms of the level or ranks of the hospital in the overall network.
Analysis
The key strength of this study is the large amount of data that the researchers use to determine the interconnectedness of hospitals and referrals across the Dutch healthcare network. In the review of data from 98 Dutch hospitals, the researchers overcome the barriers that are associated with investigating a single hospital. Further, the researchers use of mathematical models ensures clear identification of the patterns of the spread of healthcare-acquired infections in Dutch. Concisely, the researchs findings can be generalized to other healthcare networks across the world and hence help in the efforts of reducing the spread of healthcare-acquired infections across the healthcare system that is brought about by referrals.
Key Elements
The key idea that is put forward in this article is the evident need for research to address the issue of the spread of hospital-acquired diseases. Besides being neglected, the issue has received insignificant support from research. For instance, the fact that most of these infections are acquired in the hospital clearly shows the healthcare gaps that exist in the healthcare system. The gaps need to be addressed to ensure that the hospitals are secure for patients. Hospitals should not be locations where patients get even more life-threatening ailments.
Reflection
The findings of the research clearly show the link between hospital referrals and the rate or risk of transmission of hospital-acquired illnesses across the hospitals. Further, the research confirms that patients who have recurring ailments and often seek medical care are more likely to increase the risk of the transmission of hospital-acquired diseases. The large number of data that has been deployed increases the credibility of the research and hence the applicability of the findings across the board. Concisely, the research offers insightful findings and recommendations that set the path for future studies and interventions that relate to the prevention of hospital-acquired illnesses, which often put the safety of patients in hospitals in jeopardy.
Reference List
Donker, T., Wallinga, J., & Grundmann, H. (2010). Patient referral patterns and the spread of hospital-acquired infections through national healthcare networks. PLoS Computational Biology, 6(3), e100715.
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