Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Becomes First Wyoming Hospital to Receive Sepsis Certification
December 7, 2023
Cheyenne, WY—Cheyenne Regional Medical Center was recently notified that it has received sepsis certification from The Joint Commission, a national organization that accredits and certifies more than 22,000 healthcare institutions in the United States. CRMC is the first hospital in Wyoming to receive this certification, which is considered The Joint Commission’s “Gold Seal of Approval” for providing sepsis care.
To obtain certification, CRMC underwent a rigorous onsite review from a surveyor who verified that CRMC is complying with Joint Commission standards. Standards include early recognition and treatment of patients with sepsis as well educating staff, patients and the community about sepsis prevention and treatment.
“Attaining Joint Commission certification for sepsis care is a significant accomplishment for our hospital,” said Dr. Sisham Ingnam, medical director for CRMC’s sepsis program. “This recognition underscores the dedication of our healthcare professionals and their focus on delivering excellent patient care. The certification also reinforces our commitment to patient safety and inspires us to continually enhance our capabilities and practices.”
Sepsis is a medical emergency that happens when an infection triggers an overwhelming response from the body. Without quick intervention and care, sepsis can lead to organ failure and death.
“Cheyenne Regional Medical Center has been committed to improving sepsis awareness and treatment for many years,” said Hope Robinson, CRMC’s manager of specialty certifications. “We are incredibly pleased to be recognized for the hard work of everyone who has participated in improving sepsis care delivery throughout the hospital.”
Hospital quality improvement programs that focus on sepsis care are associated with reductions in hospital mortality, patient length of stay and healthcare costs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Sepsis certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, The Joint Commission’s executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer. “We commend Cheyenne Regional Medical Center for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
Sepsis can be identified using the “It’s About Time” reminder:
- T: Temperature, higher or lower than normal
- I: Infections, may have signs or symptoms of an infection
- M: Mental decline, confused, sleepy or difficult to rouse
- E: Extremely ill, severe pain or discomfort
