R 224

2019 -- H 5539 Enacted 04/23/2019

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP STATEWIDE SEPSIS PROTOCOLS

Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Solomon, Vella-Wilkinson, Shanley, and

Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

WHEREAS, According to a 2018 study from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Services, Rhode Island ranks fourth lowest in the United States for properly treating sepsis, a life-

threatening reaction to infection that kills more than 200,000 people yearly across the country;

and

WHEREAS, Sepsis is a complication that occurs when a person’s body has an extreme

response to an infection. It can cause damage to organs in the body and can be life-threatening if

not treated. If sepsis becomes severe enough or develops into septic shock, the chances of dying

from sepsis increase significantly; and

WHEREAS, Sepsis most commonly occurs in patients with chronic conditions or those

who are very young or very old; however, it can also occur in otherwise healthy children; and

WHEREAS, Sepsis is the most common cause of death in hospitalized children in both

Rhode Island and the rest of the United States; and

WHEREAS, More than 75,000 children develop sepsis each year across the country and

more than 3 million die around the world; and

WHEREAS, Under Rhode Island General Law, the Department of Health "shall take

cognizance of the interests of life and health among the peoples of the state" and shall "do all in

its power to ascertain the causes and the best means for the prevention and control of diseases or

conditions detrimental to the public health"; and

WHEREAS, Studies have shown that utilizing best practice guidelines that reveal early

identification of sepsis and early appropriate care can greatly reduce the risk of death from sepsis;

now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Department of Health to

develop statewide evidence-based Sepsis Protocols for the early diagnosis and treatment of

sepsis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and herby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

Health.

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LC001646

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