The severe sepsis and septic shock project first was implemented during The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) 2.0. It resulted in a 36 percent reduction in sepsis mortality, and a 69 percent reduction in post-op sepsis. To sustain the gains made in the HAP HEN 2.0, there is continued focus on:
- 3 and 6 hour bundle compliance
- Data analytics
- Coaching hospital sepsis teams
- Onsite hospital visits focusing on physician peer-to-peer advisory, sepsis treatment compliance and sharing of best practices
Goal: Achieve a 20 percent reduction in severe sepsis and septic shock mortality and post-operative sepsis from baseline
- Mortality case: The number of patients admitted to an acute care setting with a diagnosis of severe sepsis (R6520) or septic shock (R6521) that die
- Post-op sepsis case: The number of patients discharged with an ICD-10 surgical procedure code and a diagnosis code for severe sepsis (R6520) or septic shock (R6521)
Sepsis physician advisor: Thomas Stoner, DO, FACOI
Pediatric Sepsis
Pediatric Sepsis Emergency Department Screening Pilot Study, HAP and CHOP Collaborative Work
Early recognition of sepsis in pediatric patients is a gap in current sepsis care. Sepsis is a leading cause of death in children in the United States—with a higher mortality rate than pediatric cancer—and the costs of care are steep for this population.
In June 2018, HAP convened a one-day training to kick off its joint pilot program with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to recognize sepsis in pediatric patients in emergency rooms. Two Pennsylvania community-based hospitals joined HAP and CHOP at the event.
The pilot program aims to show that CHOP’s two-phase protocol for recognizing sepsis will improve sepsis outcomes beyond its facility. The EPIC electronic medical record Best Practice Alert is utilized to recognize sepsis and place pediatric patients on the sepsis pathway of care in an emergency room. The goal is to spread the use of these screening tools and treatment protocols to Pennsylvania hospitals to further improve sepsis outcomes in children.
- More than 18 children die each day in the U.S. from sepsis
- More than 200 children are diagnosed with severe sepsis every day, and of those that survive, 40 percent will suffer ongoing injuries including amputation and cognitive challenges
This pilot is part of HAP’s continuous efforts to improve patient safety in Pennsylvania’s hospitals. HAP is proud to partner with CHOP and participating hospitals as we collectively work to improve sepsis recognition and care in Pennsylvania.
Goal: To screen and recognize sepsis sooner in pediatric patients in community hospital emergency rooms
Project advisors: Scott Weiss, MD, MSCE, FCCM Fran Balamuth, MD, PhD, MSCE, Julie Fitzgerald, MD, PhD, and Theresa Walls, MD, MPH
HAP Contacts
For more information, contact Maggie Miller, sepsis project manager. For media inquiries, contact Rachel Moore, director, media relations.