🔍 📞 🔍
Main Menu

Oneida Health Hospital reduces risk of severe sepsis and septic shock

Severe sepsis and septic shock cause serious risk of morbidity and mortality, with risk of mortality increasing about 10% in patients with sepsis and more than 40% in patients with septic shock. In an effort to improve outcomes for patients with sepsis and/or septic shock, Oneida Health Hospital created a dedicated team to improve compliance with sepsis bundles and reduce sepsis-related mortality.

To address mortality rates and sepsis compliance, Oneida Health Hospital formed a sepsis core team that met every two weeks. The team reviewed current procedures and focused on specific process changes to drive improvements. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the team:

  • developed a “Quick Pick” condensed order set that allows clinical staff to start treating sepsis sooner;
  • began clinical huddles with staff to promote leadership and improve awareness;
  • created a paper checklist to strengthen communication during hand-off and remind nursing staff of the required bundle elements;
  • completed an electronic health record optimization to auto-repeat an elevated lactate;
  • began provider counseling by the emergency department director and chief medical officer to improve accountability and enhance education;
  • developed a sepsis dashboard to track and trend fallouts, and to promote sustainability and demonstrate growth to leadership; and
  • implemented and adhered to a bedside shift report.

Through these changes, mortality dropped from 17.6% in 2018 to 15.3% in 2019, below the New York state rate of 22.9%. SEP-1 bundle compliance rose by 22% from 59.6% in 2018 to 72.7% in 2019, above the New York state benchmark. Additionally, clinical staff are now champions for early, comprehensive care for patients with sepsis.

For more information, contact Renee L. Pushlar, MSN-IPC, RN, manager, infection prevention and employee health, Oneida Health, at rpushlar@oneidahealthcare.org or 315.361.2907.