Sepsis Solutions Are Saving Lives & Enabling Better Care, According to New KLAS Report

69% of Users Report Decreases in Sepsis Mortality

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 25, 2017 – Sepsis detection and treatment is taking a big step forward as providers increasingly utilize surveillance and monitoring technology available through EMR vendors and third-party providers, according to a new report by KLAS Research. Of 95 providers interviewed who are employing sepsis solutions, 69 percent reported improved outcomes – with up to a 50 percent drop in mortality, while 23 percent said it was too early in deployment of the technology to have reportable results. Providers also reported improved outcomes in terms of reduced treatment costs, length of stay and readmissions. 

“Up to half of hospital deaths are due to sepsis, according to research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA),” notes KLAS analyst Kody Hansen, who co-authored the report with KLAS analyst Jon Christensen. “While this is an initial report, KLAS is committed to ongoing research on sepsis solutions as we seek to help vendors and providers work together to cut down on mortality rates due to sepsis.”

According to the report:

• Adoption of Cerner’s and Epic’s sepsis technology is higher than all other sepsis solutions combined, with customers of both reporting improved outcomes, including mortality reductions. “We have been using (the Cerner sepsis) product for seven months with excellent results”, said an IT Director quoted in the report. “The protocols and criteria are very inclusive and thorough. Reducing septic shock and sepsis is very beneficial to us and our patients. The solution has reduced length-of-stay numbers, mortality, and readmissions.” While Cerner’s sepsis solution is easily deployed, Epic users report the need for significant in-house effort for implementation and integration into workflows. Use of sepsis solutions by other EMR vendors lags, though MEDITECH recently developed a solution for sepsis.
• Because most EMR vendors lack easily deployed sepsis solutions, some providers are looking to other sources. Infection control and surveillance vendors such as Wolters Kluwer and VigiLanz are perceived as most focused. “(The Wolters Kluwer) POC Advisor pulls data out of our EHR to an engine with all of these rules and then shoots alerts to mobile devices,” observed one CMIO. “We are giving needed information to providers at the point of care no matter where they are. We get more of a real-time perspective verses the retrospective chart reviews that we would get three to six months later.” Health Catalyst and LogicStream Health leverage their analytics to provide retrospective views of clinical effectiveness and spur effective end-user change management.
• KLAS interviewed 102 providers who have not adopted sepsis solutions, finding that 53 percent are considering an EMR module or in-house development using the EMR platform, 19 percent are considering a third-party solution, and 28 percent are not considering solutions. While many of these providers are approaching sepsis detection and treatment through established protocols and reporting, one VP of Quality observed, “Deciding to do something about sepsis needs to be a hospital’s or health system’s first step prior to thinking about what tools to use.”

Providers may access a free copy of the report Sepsis 2017: Which Vendors Can Help?.

About KLAS
KLAS is a research and insights firm on a global mission to improve healthcare delivery by amplifying the provider's voice. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals and clinicians, KLAS gathers data and insights on software, services and medical equipment to deliver timely reports, trends and statistical overviews. The research directly represents the provider voice and acts as a catalyst for improving vendor performance. Follow KLAS on Twitter