DSS TheraDoc Helps Battle Super Bugs for Better Veteran Health

Effectiveness of the TheraDoc Solution Shown by Strong Contract Renewal Rates

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. In the U.S., more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur every year. When antibiotics are over prescribed or prescribed inappropriately, they become less effective in treating certain infections, creating “super bugs” resistant to medication. Patients die unnecessarily, and billions of dollars are lost to ineffective care and lost productivity.

Recent studies show that the first wave of Covid infections in 2020 created the perfect environment for the spread of superbugs. Deaths from drug-resistant bacterial and fungal infections spiked in U.S. hospitals, and the World Health Organization calls drug-resistant pathogens one of the 10 greatest public health threats to humanity.

In response, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) are fighting back with TheraDoc, DSS’s industry leading software decision support tool that provides real-time electronic clinical surveillance for antimicrobial stewardship and infectious disease. TheraDoc takes disparate hospital data and aggregates it to present a real-time picture of patients’ current status. This omits the need for time-consuming chart reviews by clinicians and provides relevant data for immediate medical intervention as patients’ conditions warrant.

TheraDoc is a proven COTS-based solution that delivers best value performance, balancing cost, execution and efficiency. When it comes to Veteran care, best value and past performance must be considered when choosing a healthcare IT solution.

Strong clinician support demonstrates the positive impact of using TheraDoc for improved patient safety and care. With 59 VAMC’s around the country using TheraDoc (many for more than 10 years), it’s common to see clinicians sharing best practices and standardization achieved using TheraDoc.

This includes the ability to address ever changing VA and National initiatives without delay and without requiring programming changes. In addition, sites are continually expanding TheraDoc usage into specialty practice areas, particularly Outpatient clinics where Veteran patient needs are great. Time saved using TheraDoc’s aggregate surveillance and alerting means more clinician time can be spent with the patient.

DSS, Inc. continually improves the delivery of innovative health care technologies to assist clinicians in patient safety and care. For TheraDoc customers DSS, Inc. has introduced the TheraDoc Medical Device Interface. The TheraDoc Medical Device Interface tracks and monitors device insertions and removals, associates device presence with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and calculates device days for  evaluation and required reporting.

DSS TheraDoc is a proven solution that continues to add new functionality in the face of evolving health challenges. For almost  30 years, DSS, Inc. has been improving Veterans’ care and reducing hospital costs.

To learn more about how DSS, Inc. continually supports the VA and veterans, please click here.