1. The screening tool automatically scans certain clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as the physician orders for fluid bolus or oxygen therapy (List 1). 2. If certain conditions are met (Sepsis-screening tool alert parameters), the system generates a “severe sepsis and septic shock” alert, and the test is considered to be positive. 3. This alert goes to the “nurse work list”. 4. If the criteria are not met, the test is considered to be negative (Figure 1). 5. The nurse responds to the alert and notifies a physician using a paging system, as instructed in the alert message. 6. To avoid multiple activations on the same patient, the alert is deactivated as follows: i. for 48 hours if the patient has suspected severe sepsis and septic shock,
ii. for 24 hours if the patient does not have severe sepsis or septic shock, and iii. indefinitely if the code status precludes intensive care management of sepsis. 7. Alerts do not occur during deactivation time.