Sepsis in Home Health Care: Screening, Education, and Rapid Triage.

Chimenti, Chris; Sears, Geralyn; McIntyre, Jack

BACKGROUND A majority of sepsis cases originate in the home and community. Home health clinicians play an important role in the early identification and timely treatment of sepsis. LOCAL PROBLEM A home health care provider sought to prevent hospital readmissions due to sepsis by implementing a sepsis-screening protocol and quality improvement initiative. METHODS The provider conducted a retrospective chart review of 33 264 sepsis screens of 7242 patients. INTERVENTIONS A sepsis-screening protocol, clinician and patient/caregiver sepsis education, physician and emergency department communication, and emergency medical services collaboration procedure were implemented. RESULTS A majority (69.2%) of positive sepsis screens resulted in patients receiving early medical intervention and avoiding hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS Having a formal sepsis-screening program in place prompts home health clinicians to communicate the patient's symptoms to their primary care provider, which can positively impact hospital readmission rates and associated medical costs.