Electronic patient records system as a monitoring tool.

Data collected in electronic patient records (EPR) databases may be used for different goals besides their direct purpose - information support for medical staff in their everyday activities. One of the most promising spheres is a monitoring of various processes induced in medical facility. In our studies EPR serves as a basis for healthcare associated infections (HAI) surveillance system at neurosurgical intensive care unit. The results of HAI prospective surveillance using EPR are presented and discussed.