Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Michael Furukawa

Abstract

Sepsis is a global concern because it contributes to high mortality rates, increased healthcare costs, and poor patient outcomes. Health care organizations have used risk stratification tools such as the Better Outcomes by Optimizing Safe Transitions (BOOST) tool to reduce unnecessary readmissions, decrease length of hospital stays, and improve patient health outcomes. But there is limited data on the use of the BOOST tool in the sepsis population and the impact on readmissions and length of stay. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between BOOST tool implementation, readmissions, and length of stay in patients with sepsis. Using logistic regression and linear regression, an analysis was conducted to determine the statistical significance between BOOST tool implementation, readmissions, and length of stay. This was a secondary data analysis of 1,394 sepsis inpatients from an acute care hospital in the West Coast region of the United States who met the inclusion criteria. Contrary to expectations, this study indicated an increase in sepsis readmissions and length of stay after BOOST tool implementation. Low BOOST tool completion rates during the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the results of this study. However, the best-practice elements listed within the BOOST tool are still applicable for the sepsis population in the standardization of the discharge planning process. Application of Gittell’s relational coordination model indicated an opportunity to improve the quality of sepsis care coordination. Results of this study may contribute to the implementation of an alternative tool to monitor readmissions and length of stay in the sepsis population.

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