St. Francis Health Leads Healthcare Innovation with Groundbreaking Sepsis Detection Technology
September 03, 2024
Monroe, LA – St. Francis Health, part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS), announces a major advancement in healthcare with the implementation of the IntelliSep test in its emergency department. This revolutionary diagnostic tool transforms the detection and treatment of sepsis, addressing a critical need in hospitals, where sepsis is a leading cause of mortality often obscured by misdiagnosis. St. Francis is currently the only hospital offering IntelliSep in North Louisiana.
“Being able to offer the Intellisep test at St. Francis Health is another step in moving St. Francis forward to provide the highest-quality healthcare for those who make North Louisiana their home,” said Thomas Gullatt, MD, St. Francis Health president. “We are excited to have the Intellisep testing be part of the process in our emergency department to ensure our patients are treated timely and appropriately for sepsis."
Sepsis, a condition triggered by the body's response to infection, can rapidly lead to organ failure if not promptly identified and treated. The IntelliSep test uses a standard blood sample to analyze white blood cell responses with unprecedented speed and accuracy, delivering results in under 10 minutes. This early detection enables healthcare providers to intervene sooner, reducing inpatient stays by an average of 1.28 days and ICU stays by 2.24 days, while also saving approximately $1,429 per patient.
“Innovation in healthcare is not just about adopting new technologies; it's about transforming patient care and outcomes,” said Christopher Thomas, MD, Vice President and Chief Quality Officer at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. “The IntelliSep test exemplifies our commitment to delivering high-quality, efficient care by enabling early and accurate detection of sepsis.”
The implementation of IntelliSep follows rigorous clinical studies in partnership with medical diagnostics company Cytovale and LSU, which began in 2014. The test received FDA clearance in January 2023 and has since been successfully deployed in the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, successfully screening more than 5,000 patients suspected of sepsis. FMOLHS is the first health system in the country to implement this technology across multiple regions.
“We are proud to pioneer the adoption of the IntelliSep test across our health system, setting a new standard in emergency medicine," said E.J Kuiper, President and CEO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. “This technology represents a significant advancement in sepsis care, ensuring patients receive timely and precise diagnoses that are crucial for improving outcomes and saving lives.”
Building on its success at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center – where it was first used to treat patients in August 2023 – FMOLHS now extends access to the IntelliSep test throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, further enhancing healthcare delivery by enhancing recovery times and reducing costs through early sepsis detection.
As St. Francis Health continues to lead healthcare innovation, the commitment remains steadfast in delivering exceptional care and improving health outcomes for the community. Evidence of this through the emergency department includes Level III Trauma Center designation, Accredited Chest Pain Center, and Advanced Primary Stroke Center, in addition to offering this revolutionary tool for diagnosing and detecting sepsis.
For more information on how St. Francis Health is pioneering sepsis care with the IntelliSep test, visit www.fmolhs.org/services/emergency-medicine.
About St. Francis Health
St. Francis Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Monroe, Louisiana, with more than 1,800 team members committed to caring for those we serve. With a 321-bed medical center, acute-care hospital, freestanding outpatient center, over 25 outpatient clinics, and nearly 350 physician partners, for more than 110 years, St. Francis has provided comprehensive healthcare services for a variety of medical and surgical specialties. St. Francis offers Northeast Louisiana’s only Level III NICU, Level III OB, OB-ED, and Level II PICU services. St. Francis Medical Center leads the region in heart and vascular services, critical care, and complex and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The hospital offers a designated Level III Trauma Center, a Graduate Medical Education Program, Accredited Chest Pain Center, Accredited Primary Stroke Center and Centers of Excellence in the areas of bariatric surgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive gynecology, breast health and specialized anesthesia. St. Francis is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit stfran.com.
About the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System is one of the largest healthcare systems based in Louisiana and is the leading healthcare provider for more than half the state’s population. The health system is a non-profit, Catholic organization sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ministry serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi through a network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and integrated health systems. The health system’s unified physician organization is comprised of more than 1,100 adult and pediatric primary care physicians and specialists. The system’s nine main campus hospitals include St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of the Angels in Bogalusa, and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information, visit fmolhs.org.