Evidence-based Clinical Care: Surviving Sepsis

Sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock are significant healthcare concerns for the U.S. population because of their high prevalence, morbidity, mortality and medical costs. Mortality from sepsis increases 8% for every hour that antibiotic treatment is delayed. Sepsis is a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals. This course provides a review of the Sepsis Clinical Pathway at Baptist Health South Florida.

Note to Physicians: Be sure to bookmark this course to access all protocols, pathways, policies and procedures at your convenience via your CME Portal account. All power plans are available in Cerner. All EBCC deliverables will be available on the EBCC website.

Target Audience

Critical Care Physicians, Emergency Department Physicians, Hospitalists, Internal Medicine Physicians, Infectious Disease Physicians, General Surgeons, Nurses, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Oncologists, Obstetricians, and Physician Assistants.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the evidence-based data supporting standardization efforts to ensure consistent delivery of care in sepsis patients. 
  • Identify and triage sepsis patients according to clinical pathways and consistently implement appropriate, timely treatment protocols. 
Additional information
Bibliography: 
  • Beardsley, J.R., Jones, C.M., Williamson, J., Chou, J., Currie-Coyoy, M., & Jackson, T. (2016). Pharmacist involvement in a multidisciplinary initiative to reduce sepsis-related mortality. American Journal of Health System Pharmacy. 73(3), 143-149.
  • Doerfler, M.E., D’Angelo, J., Jacobsen, D., Jarrett, M.P., Kabcenell, A.I., Masick, K.D.…Steir, L. (2015). Methods for reducing sepsis mortality in emergency departments and inpatient units. Joint Commission Journal on Quality & Patient Safety. 41(5), 205-211.
  • Douglas, M., DeVita, M. A., Gilder, R., & Lauer, P. (2016). Bridging gaps in rapid response systems. Nursing Management, 47(12), 26-31. 
  • Story, S. (2015). Lowering Sepsis Mortality and Length of Stay: One Hospital System’s Story.
  • Health Catalyst [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.healthcatalyst.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lowering-Sepsis-Mortality-and-Length-of-Stay-One-Hospital-System%E2%80%99s-Story.pdf
  • Rhodes, A., Evans, L. E., Alhazzani, W., Levy, M. M., Antonelli, M., Ferrer, R., ... & Rochwerg, B. (2017). Surviving sepsis campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock: 2016. Intensive care medicine, 43(3), 304-377.
  • Sepsis Alliance. (2016). Sepsis fact sheet.
  • Whippy, A., Skeath, M., Crawford, B., Adams, C., Marelich, G., Alamshahi, M., & Borbon, J. (2011). Kaiser Permanente’s performance improvement system, part 3: multisite improvements in care for patients with sepsis. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 37(11), 483-AP3.
  • Zweig, M. (2014) How to scale sepsis protocols across an entire health system. https://www.advisory.com/research/physician-executive-council/prescription-for-change/2014/10/how-to-scale-sepsis-protocols
Resources: 

How to save power plans (EBCC order sets) to your favorites on CERNER? Click here to access video tutorial.

Course Summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.25 General certificate of attendance
  • 1.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Nursing
Course opens: 
12/01/2022
Course expires: 
11/30/2026

Eduardo Martinez DuBouchet, M.D. 
Medical Director Acute Telehealth, eICU, Transfer Center
Baptist Health South Florida 

Katia Jimenez Reyes, M.D., CCDS
Director, Clinical Documentation Improvement Program
Managed Care, Network Development & Medical Management Department
Baptist Health South Florida

Lisa-Mae Williams, Ph.D., R.N., CCRN-K
Operations Director, Telehealth Center, Tele-Critical Care & Virtual Sepsis Unit 
Baptist Health South Florida

Tatiana Posada, BSN, R.N.
Corporate Senior Clinical Consultant, Evidence-Based Clinical Care
Baptist Health South Florida

Eduardo Martinez DuBouchet, M.D., Lisa-Mae Williams, R.N., and Katia Jimenez Reyes, M.D., CCDS, faculty of this educational activity, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* to disclose, and have indicated that the presentation or discussion will not include off-label or unapproved product usage.

Non-faculty contributors, all other team members and those involved in the planning, development, and editing/review of the content have no relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies*. 

*Ineligible companies -- Companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer

Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians.
              
Baptist Health South Florida designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Available Credit

  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.25 General certificate of attendance
  • 1.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Nursing
Please login or register for a Baptist Health CME account to take this course.

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