An Algorithm Is Saving Lives By Detecting Sepsis

An algorithm is saving the lives of hospital patients – by detecting cases of sepsis early.

Sepsis – an out-of-control reaction to infection – is behind nearly one-third of all hospital deaths and can be difficult to detect quickly.

But the algorithm is able recognize warning signs and warn health care providers much faster – up to two hours earlier on average.

The program is called TREWS, or ‘Targeted Real-Time Early Warning System’, and has cut sepsis-related deaths by nearly 20 percent.

Do you think algorithms will play a big role in medicine going forward?