Sepsis Alliance Connect

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About Sepsis Alliance Connect

Sepsis Alliance Connect is a virtual support community designed for the millions of people affected by sepsis. Each year, an estimated 1.4 million people survive sepsis and over 350,000 adults die from sepsis in the United States alone. Sepsis Alliance Connect is a place for these survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and those left behind after a sepsis death to come together and share resources, insight, and encouragement about their sepsis experience and life after sepsis.

The main goal of Sepsis Alliance Connect is to connect those who have been impacted by this often isolating and frequently misunderstood condition. Members can take part in live and pre-recorded programs exploring topics such as:

  • Coping with life after sepsis
  • Managing mental health
  • Adjusting to life after amputations

Sepsis Alliance Connect was launched by Sepsis Alliance in 2022 with the support of volunteer community leaders passionate about positively impacting the lives of those affected by sepsis.

Upcoming Live Programs

  • Peer Support Conversations
    These conversations, scheduled at various times throughout each month, are facilitated by volunteers who are sepsis survivors, caregivers of sepsis survivors, and people who have lost a loved one to sepsis.
  • Healthcare Associated Infections – October 16, 2024
    Marianne Kraemer, RN, MPA, M. Ed., CENP, CCRN-K
    A healthcare-associated infection (also known as a healthcare-acquired infection or an HAI) is an infection contracted in a healthcare facility, such as an acute care hospital or a skilled nursing care facility. Even a doctor’s office or clinic can be a source for an HAI, which can lead to sepsis. Anyone can get an infection, but many people in hospital environments have a higher risk of getting an infection because of chronic illness, age, or other risk factors. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities also add extra risks, including concentrated exposure to germs and invasive interventions and devices. In this presentation, learn about the types, causes, and treatment of HAIs, as well as precautions which can be taken to help prevent these infections from occurring while receiving medical care.
  • What You Need to Know About the NEW Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare ICD-10 Insurance Code – October 30, 2024
    Kathryn Bowles, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, Professor of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
    In July 2024, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a new code update, effective October 1, 2024. This update includes a new insurance billing code, Z51.A ‘Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare,’ which allows providers to document sepsis aftercare and warn patients about potential risks, such as new or recurring infections, and offer rehabilitation for impairments, including the ongoing symptoms associated with post-sepsis syndrome (PSS). In this joint presentation with Sepsis Alliance Institute (which provides education and resources for healthcare professionals), Dr. Kathy Bowles will discuss how the new Z51.A insurance code is crucial for healthcare providers to document follow-up care for sepsis survivors who may be at risk for recurrent infections or dealing with the long-term effects of sepsis, such as PSS. Since many healthcare professionals may not be aware of the new code, survivors and loved ones are encouraged to share information learned in this presentation with their care teams. For many sepsis survivors, this code should help ongoing care be more accessible.
  • Young Adult Affinity Group
    Whether you’ve survived sepsis or lost someone you love while you’re young, the experience can impact your life in ways you might not have expected. Meet other young adults (loosely defined as 45 or younger) who have had their lives changed by sepsis.
  • Balanced Sepsis Amputee Community
    Leslie Green, Founder: Balance Amputee Education and Wellness
    Leslie Green is a sepsis survivor and bilateral, below-the-knee amputee who has many years of experience working alongside people with limb loss and limb difference. Balance Amputee Education and Wellness’s communities provide education, to various groups of people who have experienced amputations due to sepsis and other factors. This monthly Sepsis Alliance Connect and Balance Amputee Education and Wellness collaborative session will connect members of these communities to share resources and discuss topics related to the intersection of amputation and sepsis, and often features guest speakers.

Recorded Program Library

Browse a library of recorded programs you can watch any time, which will grow as new programs are added. As soon as you log in, you’ll find a program library which includes:

  • 2024 Sepsis Awareness Survey: What Do You Want to Know?,Jill Gress, Vice President, Radius Global Market Research (Retired) and Secretary, Sepsis Alliance Board of Directors
  • Raise Your Voice: Supercharge Your Advocacy This Month!, Amanda Feinman, Advocacy Communications & Operations Manager, Sepsis Alliance
  • Sepsis Survivor Week – How Can You Get Involved This Year?, Alex Sadorf Colvin, Director, Marketing and Communications, Sepsis Alliance
  • Sepsis and Relationships, Linda Hart, Sepsis Survivor, and her husband and caregiver Ken Hart; Don Smith, Sepsis Survivor, and his wife and caregiver, Karen Smith
  • Sharing Your Sepsis Story with the Media, Jackie Duda, Health and Travel Journalist, Sepsis and Disability Advocate
  • Sepsis: How is the Healthcare Professional Community Educated & Trained? Claudia Orth, BSN, RN, Director of Provider Education & Training, Sepsis Alliance; Katie West, MSN, RN, CME Specialist, Munson Healthcare; Sandra Kleier, RN, Sepsis Survivor
  • Preventing Readmissions After Sepsis, Stephanie Parks Taylor, MD, MS, Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Professor, Internal Medicine, University of Michigan
  • Basics of Home Care, Rebecca Fuller Gray, Executive Vice President of Clinical & Program Affairs, Home Care Association of New York State 
  • Storytelling with a Purpose, Rosie Bartel, Sepsis Advocate, Board Member, PFAnetwork and Peter Guglietta, Sepsis Advocate, Lost a Loved One
  • Infection Prevention for Immunocompromised People, Marijke Vroomen Durning, RN, Senior Clinical Content Advisor, Sepsis Alliance
  • Fitness Beyond Sepsis, Caitlin Massey, Personal Trainer
  • Sepsis Patient Experience Survey- What Did We Learn, Abigail Paras, MPH, Senior Director, Programs, Sepsis Alliance
  • Behind the Curtain: Preparing For Your Visit To Optimize Your Care, Karin Molander, MD, Emergency Medicine Physician, and Marijke Vroomen Durning, RN, Senior Clinical Content Advisor, Sepsis Alliance
  • Requesting a Sepsis Awareness Month Proclamation for your State, Amanda Feinman, Advocacy Communications & Operations Manager, Sepsis Alliance, and Carly Roberts, Sepsis Advocate, Lost a Loved One 
  • EMDR Therapy- How Do We Treat Trauma? Lee Oesterle, Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Hilary Bridges, Licensed Professional Counselor; and Don Smith, Sepsis Survivor
  • Common Treatments for Sepsis, Marijke Vroomen Durning, RN, Senior Clinical Content Advisor, Sepsis Alliance
  • Where to Begin? Finding a Counselor and Beginning Therapy After Sepsis, Kristan Seaford, Licensed Professional Counselor and Sepsis Survivor; and Hailey Bain, Sepsis Survivor
  • Diagnostic Solutions for Sepsis, Mark Miller, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, bioMérieux
  • Holidays and Anniversaries: Marks on the Calendar Left by Sepsis, Rosalie Carter, grandmother of Amir Carter-Williams, who died of sepsis; Sandra Kleier, sepsis survivor; and Kaitlin Walden, mother of a sepsis survivor
  • Unmet Expectations: Grief When Sepsis Changes Your Life, Kristan Seaford, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counsellor and Sepsis Survivor; Darrell Raikes, Sepsis Survivor; Kaitlin Walden, Mother of Pediatric Sepsis Survivor
  • Pain After Sepsis, Marijke Vroomen Durning, RN: Senior Clinical Content Advisor, Sepsis Alliance;Mike St. Onge, Sepsis Survivor;
    Toya Russell, Sepsis Survivor
  • Caregivers’ Mental Health, Dr. Stephen M. Scheinthal: Department of Psychiatry, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Amputee Panel, Katy Grainger, Kim Gilliam Steele & Mike St. Onge: Sepsis Survivors and Amputees
  • Sepsis and Older Adults, Al Cardillo, LMSW: President & CEO, Home Care Association of New York State
    & Wayne Shepard, RN: Director, Delaware County Office of the Aging
  • Advocacy Basics, Kristin DeVries: Director of Advocacy, Sepsis Alliance
  • Grief 101, Kristan Seaford, LPC
  • Disparities in Sepsis Cases, Sandy N. Cayo, DNP, and Cindy Hou, DO
  • Sepsis awareness resources
  • Adaptive fitness and meditation classes
  • and more

FAQs

Do I need to be tech savvy?

Not necessary! Familiarity with a computer is helpful, but not required. Our staff is happy to help walk you through the process to get started, and the community is designed to be user-friendly. We also have regular drop-in “office hours” for tech questions.

What technology do I need?

Any up-to-date desktop/laptop computer or tablet will work. You also need a web camera & microphone (if not already built into your device) to participate in interactive programs.

Who is part of Sepsis Alliance Connect?

Sepsis Alliance Connect is made up of sepsis survivors, their caregivers and loved ones, and those who have lost loved ones due to sepsis. For many in the community, their experience with sepsis happened years ago. For others, it is a more recent experience. All are interested in connecting with others whose lives were impacted by sepsis.

Do I need to be able to hear the programming?

Wherever possible, live captioning is available for those who cannot hear programming well. In some cases, captioning may not be available for various program components such as videos.

Will programs be available in other languages?

Programming is currently available in English, but as Sepsis Alliance Connect grows, we hope to provide programming in other languages as well.

Will there be message boards or different ways to connect with others?

Yes! As of April 2024, Sepsis Alliance Connect also offers message boards to help connect with others regardless of the time of day.

Who can I ask if I have other questions?

Please reach out to the Sepsis Alliance team with further questions at connect@sepsis.org

Join Sepsis Alliance Connect!

Please fill out the registration request. Sepsis Alliance will create your account and send login information by email.

Register Now
Sign in to Sepsis Alliance Connect!

Do you already have a Sepsis Alliance Connect login?
Click the button below to sign in.

Sign in