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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