Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements outline structural and procedural components that are associated with the multidisciplinary expertise required to support the care of patients with sepsis.
The structure of hospital sepsis programs may be specific to a single hospital or span an entire healthcare system. Likewise, programs may focus on sepsis specifically or may be part of a broader initiative that addresses multiple areas of quality improvement. Regardless of the structure of the hospital sepsis program, it should help healthcare staff improve outcomes from sepsis by aiding in the recognition of sepsis, facilitating the implementation of evidence-based management of sepsis, supporting the recovery of patients after sepsis, and monitoring the impact of hospital-based interventions to improve care and outcomes of sepsis.
The Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements include:
- Hospital Leadership Commitment: Dedicating the necessary human, financial, and information technology resources.
- Accountability: Appointing a leader or co-leaders responsible for program goals and outcomes.
- Multi-professional expertise: Engaging key partners throughout the hospital and healthcare system.
- Action: Implementing structures and processes to improve the identification of management of, and recovery from sepsis.
- Tracking: Measuring sepsis epidemiology, management, and outcomes to assess the impact of sepsis initiatives and progress toward program goals.
- Reporting: Providing information on sepsis management and outcomes to relevant partners.
- Education: Providing sepsis education to healthcare professionals, patients, and family/caregivers.
For each Core Element, “Priority Examples” are provided as the top priorities for hospital sepsis programs, and “Additional Examples” are additional important recommendations that can further enhance these programs.
