Empowering Sepsis Survivors: Developing Patient & Family Education and Discharge Plans

CE Information
1.25 contact hours
Completion Time
1 hour, 15 minutes
Available Until
June 1, 2026
Posted By
Sepsis Alliance
Sepsis Alliance Sepsis Alliance
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Overview

Specialties
Family and Infection Control / Infectious Disease
Clinical Topics
Infectious Disease

Sepsis survivors often face many physical, mental, and emotional challenges following their initial hospitalization. Up to 75% of sepsis survivors develop new functional disabilities and 34% develop severe cognitive impairment. These post-sepsis complications can lead to high rates of post-discharge mortality and readmissions. 

During this presentation, participants will learn about the long-term outcomes and risks faced by sepsis survivors. Additionally, there will be information on strategies and resources for championing best practice, evidence-based discharge planning, and education protocols for sepsis survivors and their families. During a moderated roundtable following the presentation, sepsis survivors will share their experiences and what opportunities they see for post-sepsis transitions of care improvement.  

Learning Objectives

At the end of the activity, the learner should be able to:

  • Restate long-term outcomes and risks sepsis survivors may face;
  • Summarize best practice patient and family education and transitions of care protocols for sepsis survivors;
  • Identify strategies for implementing a sepsis discharge planning, transitions of care, and recovery program;
  • List available sepsis survivor post-discharge tools and resources. 

Speakers

Stephanie Parks Taylor
Stephanie Parks Taylor MD, MS

Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Atrium Health

Stephanie Taylor, MD, MS, is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Taylor’s research interests focus on applying health services methods and pragmatic clinical trials to advance the learning hospital system and improve outcomes for patients with sepsis. She is the principal investigator of multiple NIH-funded studies evaluating optimal care strategies for sepsis survivors.

Sandra Kleier
Sandra Kleier RN

Sepsis Survivor and Retired Nurse
Sepsis Alliance Connect

Sandra Kleier is a registered nurse with 32 years of experience working in-patient in pediatrics, medical/surgical, and geri-psych and outpatient in long-term care and clinical care doing phone triage. Although medically retired, she continues to maintain her license in good standing. Sandra is a sepsis survivor, having endured sepsis 12 times over nine years; twice resulting in septic shock. She lives in rural eastern Kansas with her husband Ron, her mother Betty, and their 3 dogs and 11 cats. Ron and Sandra share 6 children and 13 grandchildren. To repurpose her life, Sandra ran for office and is Treasurer for the local Township board. She also joined with her high school classmates, following the death of one’s son, to start a non-profit to give scholarships to graduating Seniors at their Alma Mater. These students might not otherwise qualify for traditional scholarships but are still deserving of one, in memory of their gone but not forgotten classmates or a child of a classmate. In early 2022, Sandra, with other passionate peers, volunteered with Sepsis Alliance to begin a pilot program for sepsis survivors, caregivers of sepsis survivors, and for those who’ve lost a loved one to sepsis. Sepsis Alliance Connect was born on June 28, 2022. Sandra is a facilitator for two Sepsis Survivor Support Groups via zoom per month and has participated in several recorded programs.

CE Information

This activity offers 1.25 contact hours to attendees.

Accredited by California Board of Registered Nursing.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 1.6 contact hours.

Other healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance for 1.25 contact hours.


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