EMR ‘hard stop’ reduces CAUTI rates

Henry Ford Health System in Detroit reduced catheter-associated urinary tract infections 86% by implementing a “hard stop” in its electronic medical record preventing providers from ordering inappropriate urinary culture orders for patients at high risk for infections, a study found. Published in the American Journal of Infection Control, the study occurred at five hospitals in March 2021. The hard stop appeared one day after admission for patients with indwelling urinary catheters for more than 24 hours and remained until four days after removal. Any overrides required approval from the medical director of infection prevention after a case review, with the health system providing real-time education. The authors say their model is scalable, sustainable and cost-effective. (American Journal of Infection Control article, 2/9/26)