In the spirit of Christ and the example of Francis of Assisi, the Mission of OSF HealthCare is to serve persons with the greatest care and love in a community that celebrates the Gift of Life.
Sepsis is a medical emergency, and every minute matters. Our care teams at OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center are continuously improving how we deliver sepsis care by recognizing it sooner, treating it faster and surrounding our patients with the safest, most advanced care possible.
Sepsis is a serious condition that can happen when the body has a strong reaction to an infection. This triggers widespread inflammation that can reduce blood flow and harm vital organs. Without rapid treatment, it can progress quickly and become life-threatening. Early recognition and care are critical.
Caring for our community means always looking for ways to improve. Over the past few years, we took a closer look at how quickly we were recognizing and treating sepsis. We saw an opportunity to respond faster and more consistently so patients could get the right care as soon as possible.
To improve our response time, we strengthened our use of a proven set of early treatment steps called the Sepsis Early Bundle (SEP-1). We also added real-time alerts, improved tracking and provided more team training to help staff act quickly when sepsis is suspected.
When we detect sepsis, our teams act quickly. Within the first few hours, care may include:
These checks help our teams recognize sepsis sooner and begin treatment more quickly.
As a result of these efforts, we have seen steady improvement in how often we complete these important early care steps on time:
By 2025, our progress in sepsis care surpassed the national average of 67%, which reflects our continued focus on faster action and better care for our patients.
Sepsis can affect anyone, at any age. By improving how quickly we recognize and treat it, we are helping protect the health of the people in our community. We are committed to acting fast, using proven care steps and continuing to improve so every patient has the best possible chance to recover.