Augusta Health has saved 282 lives with AI-infused sepsis early warning system

In Virginia, the statewide mortality rate for sepsis was 13.2% in 2016. Sepsis is the body's life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage and organ failure. In the U.S., 1.5 million people develop sepsis each year, and about 17% of those die. Early detection of sepsis is critical to decrease mortality. Clinical and IT staffs at Augusta Health, an independent, community-owned, not-for-profit hospital in Virginia, knew that studies have shown that though treatments are available in a general hospital setting, they are rarely completed in a timely manner.