South Baldwin Regional Medical Center awarded Sepsis Care Accreditation From The Joint Commission

7/20/2020

(July 20, 2020 – Foley, AL) South Baldwin Regional Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Care. Accreditation and certification by The Joint Commission are considered the gold standard in health care. By meeting these standards, our facility received The Gold Seal of Approval® – an internationally recognized symbol of quality. SBRMC is one of only two hospitals in Alabama to hold The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Care.

“This achievement is a symbol of quality that reflects our hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing safe and effective patient care,” said Margaret Roley, DNP, Chief Nursing Officer, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. “We endeavor to provide the highest quality of sepsis care through a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to sepsis management and long term recovery.”

Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection and is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have – in your skin, lungs, urinary tract or somewhere else - triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. In the U.S. each year, more than 1.7 million people had sepsis, and it’s the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. Many of these sepsis cases start outside of the hospital setting.

The sepsis management team at SBRMC has reduced the risk of sepsis by limiting the progression of sepsis. They are focusing on early diagnosis and rapid, efficient and effective treatment. Key elements of the hospital’s process are medical staff-approved sepsis protocols, a team approach with focused patient handoffs, regular reviews of designed process compliance, and accountability meetings to review outcomes. SBRMC chose to authenticate their best practices and process improvements by pursuing certification.

Since as many as 87 percent of sepsis cases start in the community, SBRMC has also implemented a community outreach and education plan. Patients and their families, emergency management staff and other care providers are educated to increase their awareness of sepsis and common early warning signs, as well as, evidenced based standards of care for rapid treatment, all key to improved outcomes and survival.

Know the risks. Spot the signs. Act fast.

There is no single sign or symptom of sepsis. It is, rather, a combination of symptoms.

Symptoms can include any of the following:

S – Shivering, fever, or very cold
E – Extreme pain or general discomfort (“worst ever”)
P – Pale or discolored skin
S – Sleepy, difficult to wake up, confused
I – “I feel like I might die”
S – Shortness of breath

If you think you or a loved one may have sepsis, get to the nearest emergency room.

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