An increasing incidence of sepsis in the U.S., which hovers around 1.6 million cases and is estimated to cost $15 billion per year, has healthcare organizations worried. To stem the tide of cases and the ballooning costs, hospitals and health systems need to prioritize sepsis management programs and invest in rapid, accurate diagnostics.
This was a major theme in a discussion at Becker's 14th Annual Meeting moderated by Daniel Feinstein, MD, physician executive at Novant Health in Winston-Salem, N.C., and including two bioMérieux leaders: Colin Hill, general manager and head of clinical operations for North America, and John Hurst, senior director of field medical affairs.
Four key takeaways were:
1. Rapid and accurate diagnostics are crucial in improving sepsis outcomes and reducing costs.
For patients, a delayed diagnosis of sepsis means a delay in antibiotic administration, which can lead to organ failure or death. For organizations, a pattern of delayed diagnosis of sepsis means a hit to their reputations and higher costs associated with prolonged length o -stay. "The sooner we're able to act, the better the probable outcome. . . . It really comes down to the simplicity of 'time is money,'" Mr. Hill said.
2. Education and awareness are essential in driving sepsis management and prevention.
Educating the workforce is critical, especially given the high rate of turnover and use of travel nurses, which can lead to gaps in institutional knowledge about sepsis management.
"It starts with education awareness and driving that to the point of having a program in place]," Mr. Hill said. "We owe it as an industry, as physicians and as healthcare professionals to proselytize about the need for [such programs]."
3. C-suite leadership and commitment are crucial in implementing successful sepsis programs.
At the end of 2023, the CDC published seven core elements essential for an effective sepsis management program. One key element is the role of leadership. "I can't underestimate the importance of the leadership team being committed . . . to developing a sepsis program," Dr. Feinstein said.
4. Proper utilization of diagnostics and targeted therapy can lead to cost savings.
The economics of sepsis morbidity are such that a large percentage of total spend goes toward treating secondary and tertiary pathologies. By deploying technology that provides diagnostic information within hours, clinicians can put sepsis patients on the right treatment right away and can reduce length of stay, repeated visits and associated costs.
"After we get definitive diagnosis, I'd look at the other diagnostics that were ordered," Mr. Hurst said. "There are other opportunities to save money through that definitive diagnosis and getting them on the path and getting them going in the right direction."