Santé® Announces Rollout of Immediate Point of Care Diagnostic Testing for Patients

Transitional rehabilitation care centers introduce early sepsis screening, reduce need for patient hospitalization.

With COVID-19 hospitalizations causing nationwide shortages of hospital beds, Santé transitional rehabilitation care centers announces the implementation of sepsis diagnostic testing that will reduce the need for patient hospitalization.

A life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, sepsis claims the lives of nearly 270,000 Americans each year – affecting the lives of an estimated 30 million worldwide. Among patients transferred from skilled nursing facilities to hospitals, sepsis is the most common admitting diagnosis, and adults 65 years and older are the most likely to develop severe cases of sepsis both in and out of community settings and health care facilities.

To prevent the admission of a rehabilitation patient into hospital care, Santé will introduce a new methodology to proactively identify and treat this life-threatening condition. Through early screening, aggressive care, and comprehensive recovery efforts, studies show favorable outcomes leading to decreased morbidity and mortality among patients.

“Implementation of this recognition and treatment pathway will allow patients who manifest signs and symptoms of sepsis to undergo comprehensive screening and proactive life-saving treatment,” said Mark Hunt, COO of Santé. “We are proud to offer this essential program within our facilities to further instill trust and confidence in our patients and referring partners in the medical community.”

For newly-admitted patients with sepsis, Santé has developed a complete recovery care and management program to aid recovery from a recent sepsis diagnosis. Staff will assess risks for readmission, monitor vital signs regularly, educate the patient, and implement a strategy for holistic rehabilitation.

In accordance with this program, each Santé facility will have a sepsis clinical project team, consisting of a medical director, infection preventionist, infectious disease physician, and a nursing team to include nurse practitioners and CNAs – all of whom will work as a team to prevent, identify, treat, and educate patients on sepsis concerns. This team will also provide clinical oversight towards program compliance, alignment to clinical standards and best practices, and adherence to all applicable regulatory standards and rules.

About Santé

Santé was founded in 2008 on the premise of reshaping the way guests and patients receive care, believing that compassion has the power to heal, transform, inspire, and comfort. Santé specializes in short-term skilled nursing, rehabilitation and outpatient therapy, home health, palliative and hospice care in Surprise, North Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler. For more information, visit santecares.com