A computer alert built into Epic's electronic health record, used in emergency departments across the U.S., flagged only about 1 in 3 children who developed sepsis during their visits, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers reviewed nearly 167,000 pediatric visits to eight emergency departments within one New York health system. The alert caught 36% of sepsis cases, and it performed worse for Black children, children under 5, and children treated outside large children's hospitals.
For parents, the finding is a reminder that background software is not a safety net. A feverish child in the ER may be screened by an automated tool, but this study suggests it misses many of the sickest children. Sepsis can turn a common infection into organ failure within hours, so the earliest warning often comes from a parent who sees a child getting worse.
