SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-A Multi-Hospital Evaluation of Institutional Sepsis Policies and Protocols

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This study examined sepsis policies and practices at 51 Michigan hospitals participating in the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium, comparing current practice with the 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Researchers surveyed hospitals in December 2020 and April 2022, and 48 hospitals also submitted sepsis protocols for structured review. Hospitals self-rated how well they performed specific sepsis practices and the investigators looked for changes over time.<br /><br />Overall, hospitals were strong in early and ongoing sepsis care. Most reported having a sepsis committee, hospital sepsis guidelines or protocols, order sets, and audit-and-feedback systems. Common strengths included timely recognition of sepsis, obtaining blood cultures before antibiotics, giving antibiotics within 3 hours, measuring lactate, and providing fluid boluses.<br /><br />However, supports for recovery after sepsis were much less common. Formal pathways or structures to promote recovery were rare, and hospitals identified peri-discharge care as an area needing improvement. Practices such as screening for cognitive, functional, or mental health impairment; providing anticipatory guidance; discussing goals of care; medication reconciliation; and arranging timely outpatient follow-up were inconsistently implemented. Daily reassessment of diagnosis and antibiotics was also an area for improvement.<br /><br />The study concludes that while Michigan hospitals generally have robust systems for acute sepsis management, they lack standardized programs to support recovery and discharge planning. The authors suggest that dedicated recovery-focused sepsis programs could help hospitals adopt guideline-recommended peri-discharge and post-sepsis practices.

Asset Subtitle

Scott Kaatz

Meta Tag

Author List Elizabeth McLaughlin, Elizabeth S. Munroe, Hallie C. Prescott, Jennifer K. Horowitz, Megan Heath, Meghan K. Lóser, Patricia Posa, Peter C. England, Rania Esteitie, Scott A. Flanders, Scott Kaatz, Tanima Basu

Category Research

Concept Sepsis Management

Concept Surviving Sepsis Campaign

Concept Recognition

Concept Lactate Measurement

Concept Intravenous Fluid Bolus

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Henry Ford Health

Presenting Author Scott Kaatz

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

sepsis

Michigan hospitals

Surviving Sepsis Campaign

sepsis protocols

early sepsis care

blood cultures

antibiotic timing

lactate measurement

post-sepsis recovery

discharge planning

Sepsis Management

Surviving Sepsis Campaign

Recognition

Lactate Measurement

Intravenous Fluid Bolus