A New York nurse is directing a sepsis initiative designed for adult home care patients, according to the Observer-Dispatch.
Stop Sepsis at Home is the country's first tool for identifying adult home care patients who are at risk for sepsis, are in the condition's early stages or have severe sepsis and require emergency treatment. The initiative, launched by New York State's Home Care Association in 2017, also trains providers and educates patients and families.
Amy Bowerman, RN, BSN, executive director of Mohawk Valley Health System - Senior Network Health, partly developed and now directs the initiative, which launched in 2017. Most sepsis cases begin in the community, not in the hospital, but New York's 2013 legislation establishing sepsis protocols only applies to hospitals. Ms. Bowerman transitioned from hospital to home care soon after the legislation passed.
"One of my questions was what we are doing about sepsis," Ms. Bowerman told the Observer-Dispatch. "That kind of snowballed into conversations ... and from there, it just kind of flew and developed into a screening tool."
Conservative estimates predict the program could decrease mortality rates and save $8-10 million a year. The Sepsis Alliance named the initiative one of its 2019 Sepsis Heroes.