UCHealth hospitals in Colorado have reported significant progress in reducing deaths from sepsis, a severe complication that can arise from infection. The health system credits investments in virtual monitoring and improved care coordination for these results. According to UCHealth, the organization now prevents at least 1,000 additional sepsis deaths annually compared to hospitals with average mortality rates. This represents a fivefold increase in lives saved over the past five years.
At UCHealth Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, which became part of UCHealth in 2023, the impact has been notable. The hospital is now ranked within the top 10th percentile of hospitals nationwide for reducing sepsis-related deaths. It is one of eight UCHealth facilities to achieve this ranking, and all UCHealth hospitals are listed among the nation’s top 25% for sepsis outcomes.
“Treating sepsis takes coordination across pharmacy, nursing, physicians and more,” said Dr. Jeffrey Shapiro, a pulmonology and critical care specialist at Parkview Medical Center. “Virtual monitoring ensures we meet every milestone for patient recovery.”
Amy Hassell, chief nursing officer of the UCHealth Virtual Health Center, explained the importance of early detection: “Sepsis is hard to detect because it’s subtle until it’s not. It is high consequence, and it has time consequence. Typically, for every hour you get antibiotics, your mortality improves by 10% You want to find it as early as you can.”
UCHealth has tailored its Epic electronic health record system to monitor patient data such as oxygen levels, blood pressure, temperature and lab results on an ongoing basis. When signs of sepsis appear early on, alerts are sent from the Virtual Health Center to on-site teams. In some cases, staff use secure cameras to collaborate with bedside providers in real time.
“Virtual monitoring is a game-changer for our patients,” said Noreen Bernard, chief nursing officer at UCHealth Parkview. “It has led to so many improved lives, so many saved lives. By using this technology, we can detect sepsis earlier, respond faster and improve outcomes.”
Dr. James Caldwell, chief medical officer at UCHealth Parkview added that virtual health monitoring supports rather than replaces bedside care: “By combining advanced technology with high-reliability processes, we’re ensuring safer hospital stays for our patients,” he said.
Sepsis remains a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals; September was declared Sepsis Awareness Month by Sepsis Alliance in 2011.
UCHealth operates 14 hospitals and hundreds of clinics across Colorado as well as southern Wyoming and western Nebraska.
