“The broad vision and ongoing support of our OHA board and our President and CEO, Mike Abrams has set a clear target of what we wanted, to reduce sepsis mortality,”
Sepsis Alliance is delighted to honor the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) as a 2020 Sepsis Hero. The OHA represents the interests of 14 health systems and 240 hospitals in Ohio. The hospitals are diverse in the communities they serve, and the services they offer. Currently, hospitals in the association include acute care facilities, long-term acute care facilities, and hospitals specializing in psychiatry, rehabilitation, specialty surgery, and pediatrics.
Sepsis Alliance named OHA as a Sepsis Hero in recognition for their work in reducing sepsis mortality by raising sepsis awareness and improving sepsis management throughout Ohio and beyond.
One of the driving forces behind the sepsis work is James Guliano, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, FACHE, Vice-President, Quality Programs at OHA, and his team. Jim said he was humbled when he received the call from Sepsis Alliance President & Executive Director Thomas Heymann, telling him that Sepsis Alliance was honoring OHA. “The broad vision and ongoing support of our OHA board and our President and CEO, Mike Abrams has set a clear target of what we wanted, to reduce sepsis mortality,” Jim said. “To start, we mapped out a strategy to engage people throughout the continuum of care.”
The drive to improve sepsis care across the continuum of care began in the third quarter of 2015, and the work has been growing since. In addition to notable metrics such as quantifying the estimated number of lives saved and the percentage of mortality reduction, successes are determined through engagement in monthly evidence-based, continuing education webcasts. “Often, there may be over 750 active lines participating with multiple people per line,” Jim pointed out.
Community engagement is also a big component of the OHA sepsis mortality reduction initiative. John Palmer, OHA’s Director of Public and Media Relations, pointed out that for the past 5 years, OHA has worked with the Governor’s office in the state of Ohio to officially proclaim September as Sepsis Awareness Month.
Collaboration is what makes the initiative continue to work, Jim said. “We are grateful for the advisement offered by James O’Brien, MD. We have had so much collaboration with international subject matter experts and others. We facilitate the opportunity for participants to hear about clinical evidence, lessons learned, and effective strategies.”
Sepsis Alliance would like to congratulate Jim Guliano, the team, and OHA for being a Sepsis Hero.
OHA and its fellow Sepsis Heroes will be honored during the 9th Annual Sepsis Heroes gala on September 17, 2020.
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