Veterans Health Study Reveals Strategies to Boost Adoption of Multidrug-Resistant Organism Alert Tool

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the Frontiers in Health Services journal found that incorporating user feedback into the implementation of a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) alert tool, known as VA Bug Alert (VABA), significantly increases its adoption among healthcare facilities. The research, conducted by a team of researchers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, aimed to compare the effectiveness of standard and enhanced implementation strategies for improving VABA adoption. The study found that while 25% of infection preventionists and coordinators reported no knowledge or use of VABA before education, this number decreased to 82% after education, indicating a significant intent to use the tool.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Veterans Health Administration launched VA Bug Alert (VABA) to identify admitted patients infected or colonized with MDROs in real-time and promote timely infection prevention measures.
  • Initial VABA adoption was suboptimal, with only 40% of facilities registered for VABA at baseline.
  • The study compared the effectiveness of standard and enhanced implementation strategies for improving VABA adoption among 121 VA healthcare facilities between April 2021 and September 2022.
  • The enhanced implementation strategy included audit and feedback reports and external facilitation via guided interviews to assess VABA use barriers.
  • VABA adoption increased significantly after the enhanced implementation trial period, with 75% of facilities adopting VABA compared to 40% at baseline.
  • The study concluded that incorporating user feedback into the implementation of VABA may increase its use and help reduce MDRO spread in VA.

Statistics:

  • 25% of 167 MPC/IP survey respondents reported no knowledge or use of VABA before education.
  • 82% of 92 survey respondents reported intending to use VABA after education.
  • 40% of facilities were registered for VABA at baseline.
  • 73% of facilities adopted VABA after the enhanced implementation trial period (91% of facilities that received the enhanced implementation).
  • The study evaluated 121 VA healthcare facilities for adoption of VABA between April 2021 and September 2022.

Sources:

  • Goedken, C., et al. (2025). Standard vs. enhanced implementation strategies to increase adoption of a multidrug-resistant organism alert tool: a cluster randomized trial. Frontiers in Health Services, 2025;5:1566454.
  • NewsRx. (2025, October 20). New Veterans Health Study Findings Have Been Reported by Researchers at Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Standard vs. enhanced implementation strategies to increase adoption of a multidrug-resistant organism alert tool: a cluster randomized ...). Clinical Trials Week, 149.