As Sepsis Awareness Month comes to a close, FMOL Health is sharing how a rapid diagnostic test and updated emergency department protocol are continuing to save lives across the health system. Since implementing the new protocol system-wide, FMOL Health has seen a 24% decrease in sepsis-related deaths.
The development of the IntelliSep rapid diagnostic test began in 2014 and was a collaborative effort between FMOL Health’s Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, bio-tech company Cytovale, and LSU. First implemented at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in 2023, it has since been adopted across the health system.
Beyond implementing IntelliSep, FMOL Health has changed the protocol in how they test within their emergency department. Using a standard blood sample taken at triage, the IntelliSep test can be run while patients are still in the waiting room and within less than 10 minutes doctors can identify if a patient is likely to be septic. This means that treatment can begin sooner and enables better outcomes for the patient.
The value of IntelliSep and the emergency departments’ updated protocol extends beyond early diagnosis. It’s also helping hospital teams use resources more efficiently, as identifying a patient as non-septic means fewer unnecessary blood cultures and antibiotics, less strain on staff and patients, and quicker care.