SSM Health Wisconsin Adopts Early NEWS2 Screening to Speed Treatment for Deadly Sepsis Infections

Sepsis, the body’s extreme response to infection, can trigger a chain reaction leading to tissue damage, organ failure, and potentially death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1.7 million American adults develop sepsis annually, and without prompt recognition and treatment, this condition can be fatal. Alarmingly, one in three patients who die in a hospital had sepsis during their stay.

Early recognition and timely assessment of sepsis symptoms are crucial for saving lives. Diagnosing sepsis can be challenging, as its symptoms often resemble those of other conditions. Therefore, healthcare providers must maintain a high suspicion of sepsis to reduce the time to treatment in acutely ill patients.

To enhance the speed and accuracy of sepsis evaluation and treatment, SSM Health implemented the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) across its seven Wisconsin hospitals. NEWS2 uses physiological parameters—respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and level of consciousness or new confusion—to score patients and assess their risk of deterioration.

A NEWS2 score of ≥5 identifies severely ill patients likely experiencing organ dysfunction. Nurse-driven protocols then prompt the nurse to notify the Emergency Department physician for rapid patient evaluation to determine if sepsis is the probable cause of deterioration. If sepsis is suspected, a “Code Sepsis” alert is issued, summoning a sepsis response team to the patient’s bedside. This team expedites treatment guidelines and antimicrobial therapy for patients at risk for sepsis or in septic shock.

Each SSM Wisconsin Emergency Department has established a “Sepsis Response” team, with team composition varying by location. Team members have defined roles and responsibilities to provide critical support and deliver timely, guideline-based care.

SSM Health introduced NEWS2 in October 2023, alongside education and guidance for emergency providers, nurses, laboratory personnel, pharmacy leaders, and nurse managers to understand the importance of early sepsis detection and treatment. Since its introduction, ED teams have been working to integrate the NEWS2 screening process at triage, aiming for 100% compliance. This integration helps in identifying patients at risk of deterioration promptly and reduces the time to deliver recommended therapies, ultimately lowering sepsis-related mortality.

By implementing these efforts, SSM Health is significantly improving sepsis treatment through early detection and timely intervention.