When bacteria get into a person’s body, it can cause an infection such as a urinary tract infection or pneumonia. If left untreated these infections can cause sepsis. Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to the infection and triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Early detection and treatment of sepsis are the most important factors in reducing illness and death from sepsis but delays in recognition and initiation of appropriate therapy have made sepsis the most common cause of death in U.S. hospitals.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid adopted a measure called the Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Management Bundle which outlines a series of time-sensitive treatments and tests for patients with sepsis. The treatments and tests within this bundle include:
Initial review of NMC’s Sepsis data indicated that we fell below the national average in the percent of patients who received bundle-compliant care for sepsis. Efforts toward improving care for sepsis patients started in the Emergency Department by convening a group of nurse and provider champions who worked together to adopt workflows and tools that make prompt detection and treatment easier.
Sepsis has been given a code-status within the Emergency Department so urgent communication is shared with the team immediately when sepsis is suspected.
The creation of standard orders for nursing staff, means that treatment can be initiated immediately once sepsis is recognized.
The CMS approved bundle has been built as a treatment module within the Electronic Medical Record and a sepsis flag has been added, creating an additional alert for staff.
Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection, including COVID-19, can lead to sepsis. Patients and their visitors should be aware of who is at highest risk and the signs and symptoms of sepsis.
A medical assessment by a healthcare provider is needed to confirm suspected sepsis. However, a patient with
High heart rate of low blood pressure
Confusion or disorientation
Extreme pain or discomfort
Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
Shortness of breath
Clammy or sweaty skin
Sepsis
Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns about what Northwestern Medical Center is doing to keep patients safe. It is important that we all work together to prevent infections and attain the best possible health outcomes.