To catch a syndrome like sepsis while it's still low drama, patients must be identified before they reach the ICU – before they're critically ill, and before intervention demands heroic measures, both clinically and economically. This calls for radar-like vision that can scan far beyond the horizon of the data ocean to pinpoint a problem that is out of view. Reaching into the pre-ICU space may require new sensors that provide surveillance for those at risk.
There is still much science to be explored, evidence to be generated and proof to be established. There is still much to be learned from teams embedded in clinical environments.
We're gaining some intriguing insights from disciplines outside of healthcare – from SWAT teams to air traffic controllers to EMS dispatchers – around situational awareness and information delivery in urgent circumstances.
But the key elements are in place to make advances in managing the sepsis dilemma.
This has the potential to be a solid step toward helping to resolve the standardization-vs-personalization paradox by applying precision digital health to a very common acute care problem.
About the author: Paul Mullen is the general manager of GE Healthcare Acute Care.Back to HCB News
