Factors Influencing Variability in Compliance Rates and Clinical Outcomes Among Three Different Severe Sepsis Bundles

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While 3 different quality indicator bundles are either approved (Voluntary Hospitals of America [VHA], Institute for Healthcare Improvement [IHI]) or proposed (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO]) to rate clinical practices in treatment of severe sepsis, it is suspected that differences in the quality indicators among these bundles may lead to discrepant benchmarking data. OBJECTIVE: To compare bundle compliance and patient factors associated with it among the IHI, JCAHO, and VHA severe sepsis bundles and explore possible reasons for any observed variability. METHODS: Using a retrospective, noninterventional design, we evaluated 50 adults (APACHE II score 25 ± 6, organ failure 2 ± 1, and shock 52%) with severe sepsis who were admitted consecutively to an intensive care unit at a 450 bed university-affiliated hospital. RESULTS: Few patients met 100% (IHI 6%, JCAHO 0%, VHA 6%) or 75% or greater (IHI 22%, JCAHO 6%, VHA 22%) of the quality indicators in each bundle. The number of patients who met 50% or more of the quality indicators varied significantly between JCAHO (28%) and both IHI (66%; p < 0.001) and VHA (60%; p < 0.001), but not between IHI and VHA (p = 0.53). Compliance with 50% or more of the quality indicators was more likely to occur when patients had shock (IHI, JCAHO, VHA), an APACHE II score greater than or equal to 25 (VHA), 2 or more organ failures (VHA), or survived hospitalization (IHI). We identified a number of factors that may help explain these differences. CONCLUSIONS: Differences among the IHI, JCAHO, and VHA severe sepsis bundles lead to variability in bundle compliance rates and the patient factors associated with the variability and may lead to confusion when benchmarking practices among institutions. Future efforts should focus on developing a single valid and reliable bundle that allows providers to improve the quality of sepsis care. TRANSFONDO: Tres diferentes organizaciones [“Voluntary Hospitals of America” (VHA), “Institute for Healthcare Improvement” (IHI), “Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations” (JCAHO)] encargados con mejorar el cuidado médico en instituciones han desarrollado criterios de indicadores de calidad para el manejo apropiado de sepsis. Estas guiás de tratamiento han sido desarrollados con el propósito de proveer instituciones con un mecanismo para comparar la calidad de cuidado que ofrecen a sus pacientes que son admitidos con sepsis severa. Mientras que se han aprobado o propuesto tres diversos criterios de indicadores de calidad para evaluar las prácticas clínicas del manejo de sepsis severa, se sospecha que las diferencias entre estos indicadores pueden resultar en datos de comparación discrepantes.