Spectrum Health Receives Award for Initiative to Decrease Adult Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock Mortality

June 28, 2019

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 28, 2019 – The Michigan Hospital Association, or MHA, has awarded Spectrum Health with its Advancing Safe Care Award for reducing severe sepsis/septic shock mortality.

Created in 2018, the award honors health care teams within MHA-member hospitals that demonstrate a fierce commitment to providing care to different patient populations, show evidence of an improved safety culture, lead the charge for quality improvement, and demonstrate transparency in their efforts to improve healthcare.

“Sepsis strikes without warning, regardless of a patient’s race, age, gender, health history or socioeconomic status,” said Darryl Elmouchi, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Spectrum Health, and President, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “By empowering front line teams, we made real impact. Our teams exceeded goals, and we estimate the effort led to 159 patient lives saved between March 2018 and April 2019.”

In March 2018, Spectrum Health began a sepsis initiative to decrease adult severe sepsis/ septic shock mortality. The project was built on the foundation that sepsis reaches across the full continuum of care. A systematic approach that included evidence-based pathways, order bundles, measurable benchmarks and timelines was developed to tackle the issue systemwide.

A significant portion of the work focused on communications and effective handoffs to prevent delays, as well as promote teamwork. Spectrum Health understands the delivery of optimal care to patients across all disciplines must focus on a safe and transparent culture. For that reason, the identification and treatment of sepsis is done with the motto, “Sepsis is a team sport.”

Standardized processes and evidence-based pathways were created to allow for more rapid care and collaborative decision-making between responders and staff members who provide care for severe sepsis/ septic shock patients. Through frequent communication and teamwork, successful sepsis bundle compliance is acknowledged and celebrated among peers.

Watch the video below to learn more about Spectrum Health’s work to improve early recognition and response for sepsis and to reduce mortality from it.

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