Digital Tools: The New Frontline Against Sepsis

In the fast-paced world of hospital medicine, digital tools are revolutionizing the battle against sepsis. This life-threatening condition, known for its rapid onset and potentially devastating outcomes, is met with cutting-edge technologies that streamline workflows, improve patient care, and empower hospitalists to deliver timely interventions.

EHRs and clinical decision support systems

At the core of this transformation are electronic health records (EHRs) integrated with clinical decision support systems. These systems continuously analyze patient data, alerting hospitalists to potential sepsis cases in real time. They flag abnormal vital signs, lab results, or specific combinations of symptoms indicative of sepsis. By flagging at-risk patients early and guiding clinicians through sepsis protocols, these tools ensure timely interventions and adherence to best practices. This streamlined workflow reduces the cognitive load on healthcare practitioners, allowing them to focus on patient care. Real-time alerts, guided protocols, and reduced mental burden are key benefits that enhance hospitalist efficiency.^1,2

AI-powered predictive analytics

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered predictive analytics introduced an unprecedented level of precision in identifying patients at risk of sepsis. These tools analyze a wide range of data points, including patient history, demographics, and lab results, to predict sepsis risk. For hospitalists, this means being steps ahead, armed with insights drawn from vast datasets that reveal complex, otherwise invisible patterns. These tools enable clinicians to intervene even before traditional symptoms become apparent. This proactive approach not only improves patient outcomes but also optimizes hospitalists’ workflow by allocating resources more effectively and prioritizing care where it is needed most. Early detection, resource optimization, and improved outcomes are significant advantages of predictive analytics in sepsis care.^3-7

Sepsis virtual and remote monitoring

Sepsis virtual and remote monitoring harnesses advanced technology, enabling trained healthcare teams, including remote nurses and clinicians, to oversee patient data and identify early sepsis signs while guiding on-site care through timely interventions. This approach increases adherence to the sepsis bundle—crucial for improving outcomes—by alerting and reminding on-site teams about treatments such as timely antibiotic administration and supporting continuous documentation. Importantly, the remote team could also use video monitoring technology to evaluate patient responsiveness to sepsis treatment, offering an additional layer of oversight. The potential cost savings and expanded access to care that remote monitoring could offer, especially for smaller hospitals or those in underserved areas, are significant. This capability can not only boost compliance with best practices but also support a cycle of continuous improvement and education for on-site staff, thereby elevating the standard of care for patients at risk of sepsis. By integrating technology with expert remote support, this model underscores the transformative potential of digital health in critical-care scenarios, significantly improving sepsis management and patient outcomes.^8-10

Mobile apps and wearables

Mobile apps and wearable smart sensor patches provide hospitalists with instant access to sepsis protocols, reminders, and decision support tools—all at their fingertips. Real-time monitoring of vital signs through these wearables further enhances the ability to respond to patient changes promptly. These wearables could seamlessly integrate real-time data into a patient’s EHR, ensuring that hospitalists have the most up-to-date information. Instant access to treatment protocols, continuous tracking of patient vitals, and increased responsiveness to changes in patient condition are key benefits of these mobile technologies.^11-13

Data analytics for quality improvement

Data analytics tools empower hospitalists to evaluate their sepsis care strategies and guide quality improvement initiatives. By analyzing outcomes and protocol adherence, these tools can identify areas for improvement and support accreditation, leading to better decision making and a continuous cycle of progress. These tools could help hospitals benchmark their performance against national standards and identify areas for improvement beyond sepsis care. Detailed outcome analysis, monitoring of protocol adherence, and ongoing refinement of sepsis management strategies are essential elements of using data analytics for quality improvement.^14,15,16

Conclusion

The integration of digital tools in sepsis prediction and treatment can transform hospital medicine. From EHRs and predictive analytics to remote monitoring and mobile apps, these technologies improve the efficiency and effectiveness of hospitalists, ultimately improving patient outcomes in the fight against sepsis. Looking ahead, the potential for future advancements in AI and machine learning promises to further improve sepsis prediction and treatment. 

Dr. Patel

Dr. Patel is the chair of the inpatient clinical informatics council, the medical director of virtual medicine, and a hospitalist at Ballad Health System in Johnson City, Tenn. He is also chair of SHM’s Health Information Technology Special Interest Group.

References

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