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Showing posts from May, 2023

References

My information was gathered from the following sources:                                                                                                                              References ABC News Network. (n.d.). ABC News. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/newlywed-dies-sepsis-flu/story?id=28253815   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 10).   Sepsis . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/index.html   Ferrer, R., Artigas, A., Levy, M. M., Blanco, J., González-Díaz, G., Garnacho-Montero, J., &  Dellinger, R. P. (2008). Improvement in process of care and outcome after a multicenter severe sepsis educational program in Spain. JAMA Kethireddy, S., Bilgili, B., Seetharam, A., Mohan, S., Inampudi, C., & Yellapragada, S. (2017). Association between implementation of the severe sepsis and septic shock early management bundle performance measure and outcomes in patients with s

SSM Making Sepsis a Priority

    SSM Health is a healthcare organization that operates over 40 hospitals and other medical facilities across four Midwestern states in the US. One of their key priorities is to promote awareness of sepsis and improve the detection and treatment of this life-threatening condition.      They have implemented protocols that are aimed at educating healthcare providers and the public about sepsis, improving early detection, and providing prompt treatment. One such initiative is the "Code Sepsis" program, which is designed to help healthcare providers identify and respond to sepsis quickly and effectively.        The Code Sepsis program includes a set of evidence-based protocols that guide healthcare providers in the early identification of sepsis to start treatment as fast as they can. Patients that are at high risk of developing sepsis are also identified. The program also provides guidance on the use of antibiotics and other therapies that are proven to be effective in the tr

"Think Katie"

     Katie McQuestion, a 26-year-old radiology technician from Kenosha, Wisconsin, is someone that was affected by her having sepsis not being recognized fast enough. After contracting the flu, she developed sepsis. She complained of feeling sick on December 29 and was sent home sick from work the following day. She continued to feel worse as time passed, and on January 2, she passed away due to sepsis because no one could figure out what was wrong with her when she went to the hospital.Her condition rapidly deteriorated.      Sepsis is hard to recognize since the signs and symptoms that a patient can present with are the same as many other diseases. It is not always the first diagnosis that a physician thinks about when a patient comes to get treatment. Physicians did not think of it whenever it came to figuring out what was wrong with her.      Her story serves as a reminder of the potentially life-threatening complications of the flu, and the importance of seeking medical attention

A Noticeable Change

     Sepsis is a serious and fast progressing medical condition. It can lead to organ failure, shock, and even death if not recognized and treated promptly. However, since the implementation of sepsis protocols in hospitals, the recognition and treatment of sepsis have improved significantly. This is great considering how deadly this condition is. It is imperative to have a set of orders in place to catch the condition considering how quickly a patient could pass away from it.           Sepsis protocols are a set of guidelines that healthcare providers follow to recognize and treat sepsis. Hospitals have started adding it into their policies to combat the issue. These protocols outline a series of steps to take when sepsis is suspected. By following these protocols, healthcare providers can quickly identify sepsis and begin treatment, which can improve outcomes for patients.      According to a study published in the Journal of Critical Care, the implementation of sepsis protocols in h

The Sooner the Better

     It is important to recognize a patient has sepsis and to treat it as soon as possible. Implementing it when the patient first arrives with their chief complaint in the emergency department is ideal. A recent study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found that the use of a sepsis protocol in an emergency department led to a 48% increase in the identification of sepsis cases. This improvement shows importance of implementing sepsis protocols in emergency departments.           The study involved the implementation of a sepsis protocol in an emergency department over a six-month period. All patients who presented with signs and symptoms of sepsis were evaluated using the protocol. The protocol included the use of early warning signs, blood tests, and other clinical presentations to identify patients with sepsis.      Patients who were identified using the protocol were able to receive the right antibiotics and other treatments more quickly, leading to improved patient outc

Hospitals Taking a Stand Against Sepsis

    Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to infection causes widespread inflammation and it getting into your bloodstream. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis affects more than 1.5 million people in the United States every year, and it is responsible for more than 250,000 deaths annually. The key to surviving sepsis is early recognition and treatment, and hospitals are working to increase awareness about this condition.      One way that hospitals are helping to raise awareness about sepsis is by implementing sepsis protocols. These protocols are guidelines that help healthcare providers recognize the signs and symptoms of sepsis. The protocols are specific orders that should be followed, such as taking vital signs, collecting blood samples, and administering antibiotics, that should be followed when sepsis is suspected.Hospitals are also educating healthcare providers, patients, and their families about sepsis.