Nearly 7,000 Children Die from Sepsis Annually in the United States – A New Collaboration Intends to Improve Care and Save Lives
December 20, 2019
Sepsis Alliance and the Children’s Hospital Association Collaborate to Educate Health Providers on Pediatric Sepsis Early Recognition and Treatment
San Diego, Calif – United in purpose to significantly reduce childhood sepsis, Sepsis Alliance and Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) have teamed up on two major educational initiatives.
The first initiative, through The Sepsis Institute, an online learning platform created by Sepsis Alliance, and CHA’s Pediatric Learning Solutions division, provides accredited, high-value educational content to health care providers on the timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment of sepsis for pediatric patients.
“As the leading sepsis organization and the originator of Pediatric Sepsis Week, Sepsis Alliance has proven a commitment to educating health care providers on the unique signs and symptoms of sepsis in pediatric patients,” said Thomas Heymann, Executive Director of Sepsis Alliance. “The Sepsis Institute will become even more valuable through this collaboration, and through the knowledge and reach that CHA and its more than 220 member hospitals can share.”
“The partnership between Sepsis Alliance and CHA is a valuable extension of the work of children’s hospitals to significantly reduce and better manage sepsis in children through our Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes collaborative,” said Amy Knight, CHA’s chief operating officer. “We’re excited to widen our spread of evidence-based practice to any provider caring for children. Early recognition and intervention are critical to better outcomes.”
More than 200 children are diagnosed with severe sepsis every day in the United States and 9% of children hospitalized with sepsis die. Globally, sepsis is the leading cause of death of babies and small children. Among pediatric sepsis survivors, almost one third (31%) are discharged from the hospital with some disability, including cognitive or physical impairments, skin graft, amputation, or hearing loss. Sepsis Alliance and CHA are working together to change this by providing accredited educational resources on sepsis for health care providers who work with pediatric patients.
The second initiative, coming in 2020, centers on pediatric sepsis-focused webinars featuring experts in the field. Planned for January 28, Nurses Challenging Sepsis: Saving Children’s Lives will spotlight the work of the 2019 Erin’s Campaign for Kids Nursing Award winners Kimberly DeNicolo, MSN, and Tracy Lowerre, BSN, MS. Registration for the webinar is now open.
A second webinar will take place during Pediatric Sepsis Week, April 19-25, an annual observance implemented by Sepsis Alliance in 2019. Both webinars will offer continuing education credits. To learn more about The Sepsis Institute, including information about upcoming webinars and other educational activities, please visit www.sepsisinstitute.org.
About Sepsis Alliance
Sepsis Alliance is the leading sepsis organization in the U.S., working to save lives and reduce suffering by improving sepsis awareness and care. Sepsis.org, the organization’s website, serves the needs of more than 3.5 million visitors each year. In 2011, Sepsis Alliance designated September as Sepsis Awareness Month to bring healthcare professionals and community members together in the fight against sepsis. Sepsis Alliance gives a voice to the millions of people who have been touched by sepsis – to the survivors, and the friends and family members of those who have survived or who have died. Since 2003, sepsis awareness in the U.S. has risen from 19% to 65%. Sepsis Alliance is a GuideStar Gold Rated charity. For more information, please visit www.sepsis.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter at @SepsisAlliance
About Children’s Hospital Association
The Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 220 children’s hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost, and delivery of care. Through the Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes collaborative, children’s hospitals are reducing mortality from sepsis and Improving survivor outcomes. For more information about CHA, please visit www.childrenshospitals.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter at @hospitals4kids.
