Turning an unimaginable loss into a lifesaving mission

LOUISVILLE, Colo. - For Amanda Ireton, infection prevention manager at AdventHealth Avista, Sepsis Awareness Month carries a deeply personal meaning: Two years ago, she lost her mother to sepsis.

At the time, Ireton had already worked in infection prevention for several years, but experiencing sepsis as a daughter rather than a healthcare professional changed the way she viewed her work.

"It was humanizing," she said. "Our patients and their families put their entire trust in our work. At that moment in the hospital room with my mom, I felt completely helpless. There was absolutely nothing I could do but trust the healthcare team."

Her mother's experience also reinforced for her the importance of organized quality-improvement efforts around sepsis recognition and response.

"The hospital my mom was seen at did not have a sepsis program," Ireton said. "There was no 'sepsis alert' and there was no sepsis awareness. I truly believe that if sepsis would have been suspected early on, my mom would still be here."

Today, she sees AdventHealth Avista's sepsis program, led by sepsis coordinator Britini Goodwin, as an important part of helping teams quickly recognize and respond to potential sepsis.

Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection and is a life-threatening medical emergency. It can progress rapidly, making early recognition and treatment critical.

Before her mother became ill, Ireton says she understood sepsis clinically-but she did not fully appreciate how quickly it could develop.

"I wish more people understood that quick recognition is critical," she said. "Do not tough it out or ignore your symptoms."

Ireton encourages people to think of the acronym TIME when thinking about possible sepsis warning signs:

• Temperature: A higher- or lower-than-normal body temperature

• Infection: Signs or symptoms of an infection

• Mental decline: Confusion or difficulty staying awake

• Extremely ill: Feeling extremely ill or experiencing severe pain or discomfort

Her experience has also changed the way she approaches infection prevention.

"We are not just checking a box. We are not just going through the motions. We are saving a life," she said. "We are taking care of someone's mother, someone's son, someone's 'person.'"

For Ireton, sharing her mother's story is one way to create something meaningful from an experience she cannot change.

"I'm unable to change the past and what happened with my mom," she said, "But I can change what happens with sepsis awareness in honor of my mom."

During Sepsis Awareness Month, her message is a powerful reminder for every caregiver: Behind every safety practice, quality measure and clinical protocol is a person and a family placing their trust in the care they receive.