- Morgen Wells
- Posted On
Sutter Health initiative works to reduce sepsis deaths; condition is No. 1 killer in US hospitals
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The No. 1 killer in U.S. hospitals claims more lives than prostate cancer, breast cancer and AIDS combined.
It creeps into intensive care units, emergency departments and medical surgical units and claims 30 to 50 percent of its victims.
Sepsis is a common condition that is not commonly recognized by Lake County residents.
Sepsis occurs when the bloodstream is overwhelmed with bacteria, usually in response to an infection.
Unlike a heart attack or stroke, many people do not know the signs of sepsis.
It’s a stealthy killer and an expensive one. According to the American Healthcare Review Center, sepsis is the most expensive condition in the U.S.; it cost $20 billion in 2011 alone.
As part of the fight against sepsis, Sutter Health hosted a summit of multidisciplinary care teams from 20 Sutter affiliates to discuss strategies for early detection and treatment.
The teams developed task forces to monitor and track the success of sepsis management.
The Sutter-wide sepsis initiative launched last year to implement guidelines to screen patients early and catch symptoms before severe sepsis set in.
Part of Sutter’s initiative includes a checklist of signs for doctors and nurses to look for, such as a body temperature above 101 F or below 96.8 F, heart rate above 90 beats per minute, respiratory rate of more than 20 breaths per minute, and a probable or confirmed infection.
If not caught within six hours, severe sepsis can develop and lead to a drop in blood pressure, organ failure and septic shock.
While nationwide sepsis cases are on the rise, Sutter Health system cases are decreasing. Five Sutter Health affiliates have reduced the rate of severe sepsis by an average of 17 percent. Sutter Roseville Medical Center has experienced a nearly 50-percent drop in sepsis related mortality rates.
At Sutter Lakeside Hospital, the staff wears badges displaying the symptoms of sepsis.
July will mark the launch of Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s sepsis initiative, during which all clinical staff will be trained to report and treat sepsis in an effort to catch the signs early and provide proper care.
“We have always treated sepsis and done best by our patients,” said Pauline Orr, RN-BC, BSN and quality improvement coordinator. “This initiative means staff will treat sepsis with the same intensive focus we have for stroke and heart attack.”
Sutter’s electronic health record also has a system to flag abnormalities and alert staff of change in patient vital signs.
“It’s an investment in our community to train all clinical staff so that we can do our part to think sepsis and save a life,” said Orr.
Morgen Wells is Sutter Lakeside Hospital's community relations and fund development specialist.