RIYADH — The Saudi Patient Safety Center, in partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital, has launched the First Saudi National Sepsis Reduction Campaign entitled ‘Saving Lives, Saving Costs’. The launch, which took place on April 8 in Riyadh featured several sessions which saw the participation of leading experts in sepsis prevention, patient quality and safety best practices.

Dr. Abdulelah M. Alhawsawi, Director General of the Saudi Patient Safety Center, highlighted that there are very few published studies from Saudi Arabia that address the occurrence and outcomes of sepsis, stating that most patients admitted to intensive care units suffer from severe septic shocks caused by respiratory-sourced infections.

Cathy Easter, President and CEO of Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Saudi Patient Safety Center and the Ministry of Health to launch the First National Sepsis Reduction Campaign in Saudi Arabia with the aim to raise awareness and reduce sepsis in the Kingdom. Our partnership with the Saudi Patient Safety Center will create a highly specialized team that will participate in a multi-year project starting with a pilot study. It is with no doubt that through our unified vision, shared experiences and efforts, we will reduce both mortality rates and costs to the healthcare system.”

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. The ‘Saving Lives, Saving Costs’ campaign aims to raise awareness and knowledge of patient safety through a series of set national guidelines for sepsis processes, implementation plans and measurement tools. The campaign focuses on strengthening and improving the culture of best practices in the prevention and management of sepsis, ultimately resulting in lower mortality rates and cost savings for healthcare institutions. — SG