Saint Francis granted certification in sepsis by The Joint Commission

First Hospital in Delaware to Receive Designation

Wilmington, Del. – Saint Francis Hospital has received Certification in treatment of Sepsis from The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (The Joint Commission), an independent organization that works toward continuous quality improvement and accredits and certifies healthcare organizations nationally. Saint Francis is the first hospital in Delaware to receive this certification.

This certification reflects Saint Francis Hospital’s ability to provide the most up-to-date sepsis treatment using improved clinical processes related to the most recent clinical practice guidelines. It recognizes Saint Francis Hospital’s commitment to promoting clinical excellence and to providing the highest quality of care in the treatment of sepsis.

Sepsis is an infection of the bloodstream characterized by a cluster of symptoms including a drop in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate and fever. It is caused by the body’s immune system working overtime to respond to a bacterial, viral or fungal infection, and it can be life-threatening.

Saint Francis physicians evaluate, diagnose and treat sepsis by providing early diagnosis and treatment, aiming to limit complications and decrease mortality rates.

To receive certification by The Joint Commission, hospitals are required to:

• Demonstrate clinical care rooted in evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
• Monitor four process or outcome measures, two of which must be clinical
• Demonstrate evidence of ongoing compliance through site visits with periodic updates of data and information to The Joint Commission

“At Saint Francis, our goal is to ensure consistent application of the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines recommendation of Early Goal Directed Therapy (EGDT), along with federal standards of sepsis care,” said Mahnia McMullen, RN, Sepsis Coordinator at Saint Francis Hospital. “By creating consistency, we aim to decrease patient mortality rates, hospital lengths of stay and readmissions of at-risk populations. We also aim to improve the quality of care we provide and create an even stronger link to the community we serve.”

The Joint Commission announced the distinction after conducting a one-day, onsite survey of multiple departments at Saint Francis.

“This certification acknowledges our dedication to providing clinically excellent care,” said Daniel J. Sinnott, president and CEO of Saint Francis Hospital. “Our patients receive not just the medical expertise we are able to offer via our certification, but also the caring compassion we are known for. Our focus on our patients means they are more than just a number at Saint Francis.”