Hospitals That Report Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Bundle (SEP-1) Compliance Have More Structured Sepsis Performance Improvement

Abstract

Objective: Sepsis is a common cause of death in hospitalized patients. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Bundle (SEP-1) is an evidence-based early management bundle focused on improving sepsis outcomes. It is unknown which quality improvement (QI) practices are associated with SEP-1 compliance and if those practices reduce sepsis mortality. The objectives of this study were to compare sepsis QI practices in SEP-1 reporting and non-reporting hospitals and to measure the association between specific elements of sepsis QI processes and SEP-1 performance and hospital-specific risk-adjusted sepsis mortality. Design, Setting, and Patients: This mixed methods study linked telephone survey data on QI practices from Iowa hospitals to SEP-1 performance data and risk-adjusted mortality from statewide all-payer administrative claims database. The survey assessed sepsis QI practices in eight categories. Characteristics of hospitals and sepsis QI practices were compared by SEP-1 reporting status. Univariable and multivariable logistic and linear regression estimated the association of QI practices with hospital SEP-1 performance and observed-to-expected sepsis mortality ratios. Interventions: None Measurements and Main Results: All 118 Iowa hospitals completed the survey (100% response rate). SEP-1 reporting hospitals were more likely to have sepsis QI practices, including reporting sepsis quality to providers (64% vs. 38%, p = 0.026) and using the case review process to develop sepsis care plans (87% vs. 64%, p = 0.013). Sepsis QI practices were not associated with increased SEP-1 scores. Two were associated with reduced mortality: having a sepsis committee B= -0.11, p = 0.036) and using case review results for sepsis care plans (B= -0.10, p = 0.049). Conclusions: Hospitals reporting SEP-1 compliance to CMS conduct more sepsis QI practices. Most QI practices are not associated with increased SEP-1 performance or decreased sepsis mortality. Future work could explore how to implement these performance improvement practices in hospitals not reporting SEP-1 compliance.