30,000 Canadians are hospitalized each year because of sepsis. More than 30% of these patients will die. These statistics were unacceptable for a group of passionate clinicians in British Columbia working to catch sepsis early and treat it effectively to reduce mortality and morbidity.
In 2012, we created the BC Sepsis Network to connect physicians and nurses in every emergency department in the province who could champion sepsis improvement locally.
We used principles of large-scale change and distributed leadership to provide a mechanism for sharing, learning and accelerating their work, with an aim of reducing morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis. There are now more than 300 members who work in 36 hospitals and come together to focus on identifying and treating new infections early, preventing sepsis from developing as well as treating sepsis and septic shock.
Our toolkit features info and tools to initiate, implement, and spread best practices for sepsis in child and adult populations.
Guidelines and resources can help you recognize the signs and symptoms of sepsis early, and treat it effectively.
Almost a decade ago, we created the BC Sepsis Network to bring clinicians together to share expertise and resources as well as lead local efforts to improve care for sepsis. Its since grown to more than 300 members who work in 36 hospitals, and a new study estimates our significant impact on the quality of sepsis care in BC over a recent five-year period.
Among their findings, the study’s authors estimate that our work to improve quality of care for sepsis prevented over 1,150 people from acquiring or dying from the disease from 2014-18. This led to a return on investment of over $51 million, including $17 million in in-hospital care savings and $31 million in follow-up care savings, meaning that every $1 invested into our organization to lead this work resulted in $112.50 in savings to the health care system.
World Sepsis Day is a global call to action for increasing public awareness and knowledge of sepsis in an effort to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the condition. It’s a show of support and solidarity with those who’ve lost loved ones to sepsis or, as sepsis survivors, suffer from long-term consequences. This year, the BC Sepsis Network hosted two webinars. Check out the recordings below!
Many people have had very personal encounters with sepsis; some stories end on a positive note, and some paint a picture of the difficult road that many sepsis survivors face. For World Sepsis Day 2019, we asked patients to share their experiences with sepsis:
The BC Sepsis Network is a highly visible member of the global sepsis community, participating in the first Annual Global Sepsis Congress and annual World Sepsis Day campaigns, and has been an early adopter of new Centre for Disease Control sepsis resources.
Fill out the form below to stay informed about our work, events and learning opportunities. You will receive newsletters that originate from our provider, CyberImpact, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Questions? Contact us at sepsis@bcpsqc.ca. See below for an inventory of past BC Sepsis Network Newsletters.
The BC Patient Safety & Quality Council will collect personal information under section 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purposes of distributing newsletters. If you have any questions about the collection of your personal information please contact: Kevin Smith at 604.668.8213.
Empowered Patient: Ten Warning Signs of a Deteriorating Patient
Posted in Sepsis on October 27, 2021
World Sepsis Day 2021 Panel Discussion: Bridging the Gaps in Post-sepsis Care for Survivors
Posted in Clinical Care, Improve Clinical Care, Sepsis on September 21, 2021
World Sepsis Day 2021: Hospital Care Quality Improvement Webinar
Posted in Clinical Care, Improve Clinical Care, Sepsis on September 21, 2021
Colin O’Neill
Leader, Health System Improvement
coneill@bcpsqc.ca
604.668.8251
