Complete
Summary
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in hospital patients worldwide. It is a time-critical illness requiring early identification and prompt intervention to improve patient mortality outcomes.
We introduced a statewide approach to sepsis assessment and management, and helped emergency departments and urgent care centres recognise and initially manage patients experiencing sepsis.
This project was connected and complementary to the Better Care Victoria whole-of-hospital sepsis scaling collaboration.
Outcomes
Download the pathways and associated resources for your emergency department or urgent care centre.
We introduced consistent treatment to 12 emergency department and 20 urgent care centres in 2018, adding to the 30 emergency departments we had already worked with.
As a result, we saw:
- 88 per cent improved recognition of sepsis at triage
- 58 per cent improvement in timely administration of intravenous antibiotics
- 43 per cent decreased in transfer to a higher level of care (inter-hospital transfer or transfer to ICU/high dependency unit).
Targets
- Reduced mortality through application of early intervention steps
- Increased recognition and timely treatment of patients presenting with sepsis to emergency and urgent care centres.
More information
To see what we are we are doing to continue to drive improvements in sepsis care, check out the Victorian Sepsis Improvement Program.