Development and implementation of a clinical decision support system tool for the evaluation of suspected monkeypox infection

Abstract

ABSTRACTMonkeypox virus was historically rare outside of West and Central Africa until the current 2022 global outbreak, which has required clinicians to be alert to identify individuals with possible monkeypox, institute isolation, and take appropriate next steps in evaluation and management. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS), which have been shown to improve adherence to clinical guidelines, can support frontline clinicians in applying the most current evaluation and management guidance in the setting of an emerging infectious diseases outbreak when those guidelines are evolving over time. Here we describe the rapid development and implementation of a CDSS tool embedded in the electronic health record to guide frontline clinicians in the diagnostic evaluation of monkeypox infection and triage patients with potential monkeypox infection to individualized infectious diseases physician review. We also present data on the initial performance of this tool in a large integrated healthcare system.