A Survey of Sepsis Treatment Protocols in West Virginia Critical Access Hospitals

Abstract

**Purpose** Severe sepsis and septic shock, if treated appropriately, have high rates of survival. However, just as in MI and stroke, sepsis survival rates decrease hourly. Protocols are tools which help clinicians expedite both diagnosis and treatment of these time critical conditions. The primary purpose of this research was to assess West Virginia’s 20 critical access hospitals to determine the presence and location of protocols used when a patient presents with signs of sepsis and to compare this with the presence of protocols used when a patient presents with chest pain. **Methods** Each of West Virginia’s 20 critical access hospitals’ infection control officers was contacted either by phone on in person and asked to complete a 15 question survey designed to assess whether their hospital had protocolized care for patients who present with chest pain and/or signs of infection. **Findings** All of West Virginia’s 20 critical access hospitals responded to the survey and reported having protocols addressing diagnosis and treatment of cardiac emergencies for both ED and already admitted patients. Eight of 20 hospitals (40%) reported use of sepsis protocols for patients presenting to the ED. Six of the 20 hospitals (30%) also used sepsis protocols for already admitted patients. **Conclusion** Within the critical access hospital community, clinicians are comfortable with protocols for early detection and treatment of heart attack. Use of sepsis protocols was lower although respondents indicated that they were interested in learning more about their institutional ability to protocolize the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.