A recent PALTmed Connect recommended this website (https://qi.ipro.org/sepsis/) to assist SNFs in the early recognition and management of Sepsis. A colleague of mine recently lamented that one of her patients had done poorly because of delayed recognition of sepsis. I suspect this is a frequent problem in SNFs where we have so many new nurses and a much lower nurse-to-patient ratio than occurs in the acute hospital setting.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. Sepsis is the leading cause of death and healthcare spending globally. Sepsis mortality is preventable with early detection and appropriate treatment and is the #1 reason for 30-day hospital readmissions. Sepsis is the most expensive condition treated in U.S. hospitals. Mortality increases by 8% for every hour that appropriate treatment is delayed.
Early identification and treatment are the keys to improved outcomes. A helpful recognition tool is: “IT’S ABOUT TIME”
Another important recognition tool is q-SOFA (Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score). A patient is considered to have Sepsis if at least 2 of 3 criteria are present.
- Hypotension (SBP < 100)
- Increased respiratory rate (>22/minute)
- Altered Mental Status
For more important free information from this Train the Trainer ppt, please visit the above website and scroll down to the Nursing home education materials.
I agree that it is time to Stop Sepsis Now!