Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) method

Abstract Background Nearly two million adults in the United States are hospitalized with sepsis yearly, with survivors facing complications that result in high rates of hospital readmission and mortality after discharge. We demonstrated improved outcomes following discharge among sepsis survivors wh...

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Main Authors: Cheyenne R. Wagi, Marc A. Kowalkowski, Stephanie P. Taylor, Aliza Randazzo, Asha Ganesan, Amit Khanal, Sarah A. Birken
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Implementation Science Communications
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-025-00743-8
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author Cheyenne R. Wagi
Marc A. Kowalkowski
Stephanie P. Taylor
Aliza Randazzo
Asha Ganesan
Amit Khanal
Sarah A. Birken
author_facet Cheyenne R. Wagi
Marc A. Kowalkowski
Stephanie P. Taylor
Aliza Randazzo
Asha Ganesan
Amit Khanal
Sarah A. Birken
author_sort Cheyenne R. Wagi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Nearly two million adults in the United States are hospitalized with sepsis yearly, with survivors facing complications that result in high rates of hospital readmission and mortality after discharge. We demonstrated improved outcomes following discharge among sepsis survivors who participated in the Sepsis Transition And Recovery (STAR) program; however, important differences among hospitals require STAR’s adaptation to facilitate its implementation and ensure its effectiveness in new settings. Purpose The purpose of this study was to adapt STAR to hospitals with diverse characteristics. Methods We used the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) approach. We identified STAR core functions (i.e., effectiveness-driving features) using semi-structured key informant interviews (n = 7). We identified adaptations using semi-structured interviews with clinicians and leaders with expertise and oversight of resources related to transitions of care after sepsis hospitalization (n = 7) from four hospitals that systematically differed from the hospitals in which we originally found STAR to be effective. Results Network theory, which proposes that performance improves with more efficient flow of information within and across hospitals, underlays STAR’s eleven core functions. Adaptation included specific points-of-contact, communication preferences, and methods for achieving buy-in. We used proposed adaptations to tailor STAR protocols to each hospital. Conclusions We used MODIFI, a state-of-the-science method, to adapt a program that was effective in promoting transition and recovery in sepsis survivors to facilitate its scale-up to diverse hospitals. Future studies will assess STAR’s implementation and effectiveness in diverse hospitals.
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spelling doaj-art-86dc767ebe364b52a36e723ca19009f62025-08-20T03:09:20ZengBMCImplementation Science Communications2662-22112025-05-016111210.1186/s43058-025-00743-8Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) methodCheyenne R. Wagi0Marc A. Kowalkowski1Stephanie P. Taylor2Aliza Randazzo3Asha Ganesan4Amit Khanal5Sarah A. Birken6Department of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section on Hospital Medicine Wake Forest University School of Medicine Center for Health System SciencesDivision of Hospital Medicine University of MichiganDepartment of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of MedicineCenter for Health System Sciences Atrium HealthDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section on Hospital Medicine Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartment of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of MedicineAbstract Background Nearly two million adults in the United States are hospitalized with sepsis yearly, with survivors facing complications that result in high rates of hospital readmission and mortality after discharge. We demonstrated improved outcomes following discharge among sepsis survivors who participated in the Sepsis Transition And Recovery (STAR) program; however, important differences among hospitals require STAR’s adaptation to facilitate its implementation and ensure its effectiveness in new settings. Purpose The purpose of this study was to adapt STAR to hospitals with diverse characteristics. Methods We used the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) approach. We identified STAR core functions (i.e., effectiveness-driving features) using semi-structured key informant interviews (n = 7). We identified adaptations using semi-structured interviews with clinicians and leaders with expertise and oversight of resources related to transitions of care after sepsis hospitalization (n = 7) from four hospitals that systematically differed from the hospitals in which we originally found STAR to be effective. Results Network theory, which proposes that performance improves with more efficient flow of information within and across hospitals, underlays STAR’s eleven core functions. Adaptation included specific points-of-contact, communication preferences, and methods for achieving buy-in. We used proposed adaptations to tailor STAR protocols to each hospital. Conclusions We used MODIFI, a state-of-the-science method, to adapt a program that was effective in promoting transition and recovery in sepsis survivors to facilitate its scale-up to diverse hospitals. Future studies will assess STAR’s implementation and effectiveness in diverse hospitals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-025-00743-8SepsisEvidence-Based InterventionMODIFI for Implementation ScienceNetwork TheoryCore FunctionsAdaptations
spellingShingle Cheyenne R. Wagi
Marc A. Kowalkowski
Stephanie P. Taylor
Aliza Randazzo
Asha Ganesan
Amit Khanal
Sarah A. Birken
Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) method
Implementation Science Communications
Sepsis
Evidence-Based Intervention
MODIFI for Implementation Science
Network Theory
Core Functions
Adaptations
title Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) method
title_full Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) method
title_fullStr Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) method
title_full_unstemmed Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) method
title_short Leveraging inter-organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program: results from an application of the Making Optimal Decisions for Intervention Flexibility during Implementation (MODIFI) method
title_sort leveraging inter organizational networks to scale up a sepsis recovery program results from an application of the making optimal decisions for intervention flexibility during implementation modifi method
topic Sepsis
Evidence-Based Intervention
MODIFI for Implementation Science
Network Theory
Core Functions
Adaptations
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-025-00743-8
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