With sepsis identified as a clinical priority in 2019, Ascension Wisconsin set out to reduce sepsis mortality at their hospital campuses and healthcare facilities. Through extensive collaboration among the 19 Ascension hospitals in Wisconsin, they implemented use of a sepsis toolkit with a goal to reduce mortality due to sepsis by 10% and to drive standardization of best practices and treatment plans.
Each hospital/region of hospitals organized a local implementation sepsis team. Screening tools for early recognition were developed and implemented, along with a standard treatment order set for the emergency department and inpatient units. Incorporation of early recognition of the signs and symptoms of sepsis into a rapid response process and the development and implementation of a standard mortality review process were significant strategies in reducing sepsis mortality. Ascension Wisconsin found the key to success was associate, provider and patient engagement. Methods used in this Surviving Sepsis campaign included education through in-person training, web-based training, newsletters, sharing personal stories and bundle feedback. An important educational strategy with providers was sharing data that included order set usage and its correlation with mortality.
Through their efforts, Ascension Wisconsin achieved their goal of reducing mortality due to sepsis. There is continued monitoring of SEP-1 bundle compliance and sepsis mortality to sustain their progress.
See Ascension's poster.
Attribute to Rep. Felzkowski -- “I would like to congratulate the amazing leaders across Ascension Wisconsin hospitals for being featured by the Wisconsin Hospital Association for their work lowering the rate of sepsis mortality in Ascension hospitals. Wisconsin continues to really earn its position as one of the highest quality health care states in the country, and I am proud of the innovative work Ascension does to help us stay at the forefront of health care advancement.” – Representative Mary Felzkowski
Attribute to Rep. Neubauer -- Ascension Wisconsin’s innovative work lowering the rate of sepsis mortality is an amazing example of Ascension’s collaborative approach to patient care. Work like this is what makes our state one of the highest quality health care states in the U.S. Thank you to the quality leaders across Ascension Wisconsin for your work on sepsis and the care and effort you put into your work every day. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!