@article {Arberry222, author = {Jamie Arberry and Zanya Henry and Tumena Corrah}, title = {A simple measure to improve sepsis documentation and coding}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {222--225}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.7861/clinmed.2020-0868}, publisher = {Royal College of Physicians}, abstract = {Introduction Sepsis incidence and mortality are increasing, yet sepsis appears to be under-recognised and under-reported. Accurate recognition and coding of sepsis allows for appropriate funding and accurate epidemiological representation.Methods We implemented a discharge summary template for all patients discharged from our infectious diseases service and analysed sepsis documentation and coding before and after its introduction.Results Beforehand, we found that 59\% of 29 patients had sepsis, yet only 10\% had it documented on their discharge summary, and 17\% had it coded. Following implementation of the template, 38\% of 52 patients had sepsis documented, yet only 20\% of these had it coded. After delivery of a training session to the coders regarding the importance of sepsis, 38\% of patients with a diagnosis of sepsis had it coded.Discussion Despite requiring ongoing education and encouragement of clinicians and coders, implementation of the template was quick, cheap and easy and improved sepsis coding.}, issn = {1470-2118}, URL = {https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/3/222}, eprint = {https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/3/222.full.pdf}, journal = {Clinical Medicine} }