New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, a, 46-hospital system, accomplished a 20% decrease in sepsis risk-adjusted mortality over two years with novel initiatives, a health system leader said on an American Hospital Association podcast.
Ochsner has been conducting sepsis reviews, modeled after morbidity and mortality reviews, for years. The reviews were helpful but not at their full potential, as they lacked an opportunity to track trends, according to Teresa Arrington, director of robust process improvement for quality and patient safety.
Sepsis is associated with more than 50% of mortalities at the health system, Ms. Arrington said on the podcast.
To improve patient outcomes, the system assembled a team that now includes its chief quality officer, its innovation officer, an associate chief medical information officer, an emergency department physician and Ms. Arrington. The group’s mix of clinical and digital support focused on alert fatigue.
OPA, or OurPractice Advisory, alerts in the Epic EHR offer clinicians reminders and warnings. Rather than sending OPAs to “be aware,” the team changed the process so the alerts would be sent only if an action is needed.
This reform and other technology-focused changes contributed to a significant reduction.
“We are excited to share that we have, over the past two years, dropped our primary sepsis risk adjusted mortality by 20%, which is incredible, especially [since] we’re talking about at this large system level, not at a singular campus,” Ms. Arrington said. “And to be able to move the needle at scale like this, it’s challenging. … We are so very proud of the work that has been done.”
Listen to the podcast here.
