Grant: Project Grant

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to infection causes organ damage. It is one of the leading causes of death in Canada and around the world. Recognizing sepsis quickly is difficult because it can look different from person to person, and delays in diagnosis are linked to worse outcomes. Survivors often face long-term health issues that affect not only them but also their families and caregivers. In Canada, sepsis is more common among older adults and people with fewer social and economic resources, creating inequities in care and outcomes. Digital tools built into hospital medical records can help flag patients at risk of sepsis and support earlier treatment. However, most of these tools are designed in large academic hospitals, while over 90% of Canadian hospitals are community hospitals, where resources, workflows, and patient needs differ. Without careful adaptation, digital tools may fail to work as intended or even worsen existing inequities. This project will study how sepsis is currently recognized and managed at Niagara Health (NH), a large community hospital system with one of the highest sepsis burdens in Ontario. Using a research approach called institutional ethnography, we will examine how sepsis care unfolds in practice through observations, interviews, and review of hospital documents and how patients, caregivers, and staff experience it. We will work closely with patient partners, families, clinicians, hospital staff, and leadership to ensure that the study reflects real experiences and priorities. The project will produce practical guidance on how to design a sepsis recognition pathway that integrates digital alert tools with local care practices in a way that is patient-centred, equitable, and sustainable. Locally, it will help NH build a stronger system for timely diagnosis and care. Nationally, it will provide insights for community hospitals across Canada, filling a major gap in sepsis research.