Expanding the Sepsis Quality Toolbox with Implementation Science
Description:
This session was part of Sepsis Alliance Summit 2026
Sepsis is a time-sensitive clinical challenge in which timely recognition, evidence-based treatment, and reliable implementation of best practices can have a meaningful impact on patient outcomes. Quality improvement (QI) efforts play an important role in improving sepsis recognition and care processes, yet translating evidence-based practices into consistent, routine care can be challenging. Implementation science offers an additional set of tools to understand and address the factors that influence whether evidence-based practices are adopted, implemented, and sustained.
This session introduces implementation science as a complement to traditional quality improvement and explores how these approaches can work together to strengthen efforts to improve sepsis care and other areas of clinical practice. Participants will learn foundational concepts in implementation science, including determinants, implementation strategies, and implementation outcomes. The session will distinguish the purposes and applications of quality improvement and implementation science methodologies and introduce the use of a determinants framework to systematically identify barriers and facilitators affecting the adoption and uptake of an evidence-based practice.
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:
- Define implementation science, determinants, strategies, and outcomes;
- Compare the purposes of quality improvement and implementation science methodologies;
- Describe the use of a determinants framework to identify barriers and facilitators affecting the adoption and uptake of an evidence-based practice.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Adam Thompson, MPH
Practice Facilitator
Plain Speak Consulting Inc.
Adam Thompson, MPH holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Theology, a master’s degree in public health from the Jefferson College of Population Health, and a certificate in Practice Facilitation from the University of Buffalo. Adam has served as a coach and faculty on state and national quality improvement learning collaboratives and facilitates multiple regional practice transformation networks supporting Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Tribal Health Centers. Adam has co-developed and facilitated multiple curricula aimed at improving patient engagement in quality improvement activities, increasing the use of practice facilitation methods amongst capacity-building providers, and increasing the adoption and uptake of implementation science research methods into practice-based settings for both national and international audiences.