Illinois Hospital Licensing Act Now Includes Sepsis Screening Protocols
august 29, 2016
On August 18, 2016, Governor Rauner signed into law new provisions of the Illinois Hospital Licensing Act adding sepsis screening protocols. Public Act 099-0828 is effective immediately. All hospitals are now required to adopt and implement evidence based screening protocols and protocols for early recognition and treatment of patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. The protocols must include components specific to the identification, care and treatment of both adults and children and identify where the protocols differ for adults and children. The protocols must include guidelines for hemodynamic support and monitoring, delivery of early broad spectrum antibiotics with timely re-evaluation of antibiotics based on the infectious source, and the use of vascoactive agents. In addition, for infants and children, the protocols must include provisions for fluid resuscitation. The new provisions also require all hospitals to provide sepsis protocol training to staff with direct and indirect patient care responsibilities. All hospitals must also collect and utilize quality measures related to the recognition and treatment of severe sepsis for purposes of internal quality improvement. Hospitals who have submitted sepsis data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for fiscal year 2016 are presumed to meet the new sepsis protocol requirements.