PRINTER'S NO. 2516
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
506
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY QUINN, HENNESSEY, BURNS, BIZZARRO, KORTZ, KINSEY,
RYAN, BROWN, READSHAW, YOUNGBLOOD, SCHMITT, DiGIROLAMO,
MILLARD, HILL-EVANS, STAATS, CALTAGIRONE AND ROEBUCK,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2019 as "Sepsis Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Sepsis is the body's overwhelming response to
infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and
death; and
WHEREAS, More than 1.7 million people are diagnosed with
sepsis in the United States each year; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in the
United States and takes more lives than opioid overdose, breast
cancer and prostate cancer combined; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis claims more than 270,000 lives annually; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 40% of patients diagnosed with severe
sepsis do not survive; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 50% of survivors of sepsis suffer from
post-sepsis syndrome; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis significantly impacts at-risk populations,
elderly patients, young children and individuals who are
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immunosuppressed; and
WHEREAS, Health care professionals and advocates consider
this disease to be an epidemic, with one individual diagnosed
with sepsis every 20 seconds; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis hospitalizations in the United States cost
more than $27 billion each year; and
WHEREAS, Health care professionals are combating sepsis
through early detection, best practices, new initiatives,
comprehensive education and defined data and analytics; and
WHEREAS, Early detection and prompt treatment offer the best
chances for reducing deaths and improving recovery for
individuals diagnosed with sepsis until a cure is found; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is proud to support health care
professionals, families and all individuals combating sepsis;
and
WHEREAS, In 2011, the Sepsis Alliance officially designated
September as "Sepsis Awareness Month," shining a spotlight on
sepsis by spreading the word around the globe; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, the Department of Health, with support from
the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP),
held the first sepsis conference; and
WHEREAS, In 2017 and 2018, HAP brought together more than 200
health care leaders from across this Commonwealth, as well as a
number of sepsis experts for successful conferences each year;
and
WHEREAS, Continuing that success, HAP is again taking the
lead to plan this year's conference for September 23, 2019,
entitled "Solving the Puzzle of Sepsis-Putting the Pieces
Together in Pennsylvania"; and
WHEREAS, Sepsis is treatable, especially with early
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recognition and care, and individuals can help by learning about
the signs and symptoms of sepsis; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of September 2019 as "Sepsis Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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