2019 -- H 5539

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LC001646

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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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
Bennett

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

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

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

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

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and

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

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

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

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from sepsis increase significantly; and

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

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

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

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Rhode Island and the rest of the United States; and

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

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more than 3 million die around the world; and

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

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

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

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conditions detrimental to the public health"; and

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

 

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

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now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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sepsis; and be it further

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

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

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Health.

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LC001646

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