For the fourth year in a row Marshall Medical Center has been nationally
recognized for quality outcomes in the treatment of sepsis and has received
the Healthgrades 5-Star rating from 2013-2016.
Healthgrades independently analyzes and rates the performance of 4,500
hospitals each year.
Sepsis can be caused by a simple infection such as pneumonia, a urinary
tract infection, skin infection or an animal bite. The infection can progress
into a life-threatening condition that can lead to organ dysfunction,
kidney failure and septic shock.
Symptoms include a suspected infection that progresses with increasing
fever, low blood pressure and/or an altered mental state with excessive lethargy.
“Early detection and treatment are the keys to successful treatment,”
said Bradley Barnhilll, M.D., an internal medicine physician at Marshall
Medical Center. “While the incidence of sepsis in the United States
has tripled to become the 10th leading cause of death, the survivability
rate is improving due to early recognition and identification, and more
aggressive treatment.”
Marshall Hospital has taken several proactive steps to help prevent sepsis
among patients and aggressively treat any infection as early as possible.
Measures include training pre-hospital emergency medical services personnel
and early screening for sepsis in the Emergency Department. The staff
is diligent about rapid identification and treatment of sepsis, which
includes administering large amounts of fluids and antibiotics. As a result,
Marshall Medical Center has the second lowest mortality rate throughout
the Sacramento area.
People can get sepsis at any age, but it is more common in those who are
ill or weakened. Infants, the elderly and people with chronic health conditions
such as diabetes, cancer, kidney and liver disease or those with suppressed
immune systems and long term steroid use are more susceptible.
Anyone with concerns regarding infection or sepsis should contact their
healthcare provider.