The bill amends Chapter 23-17 of the General Laws entitled "Licensing of Healthcare Facilities" by adding a new section that establishes protocols for the early recognition and treatment of patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. The bill defines these conditions and mandates that by February 1, 2024, the director of the department of health, in coordination with the department's Antimicrobial Stewardship and Environmental Cleaning task force, must make available to hospitals, urgent care facilities, freestanding emergency rooms, pediatric practices, and EMS agencies, information on best practices for treating patients with these conditions. These best practices are to be based on generally accepted standards of care and include an evidence-based screening tool, treatment protocols with time-specific goals, nurse-driven testing protocols, incorporation of tools into electronic health records, mechanisms for care escalation and patient transfer, strategies for hand-offs and communication, hospital-specific antibiotic guidelines, and staff education on sepsis policies and procedures.

Additionally, each hospital in the state is required to establish a multi-disciplinary committee to implement policies, procedures, and staff education in accordance with the best practices issued by the department of health. The committee is also responsible for collecting and reporting quality measures related to the recognition and treatment of severe sepsis. The department of health, contingent upon funding availability, shall offer continuing education credits and other educational opportunities on the early recognition and treatment of sepsis. The act is set to take effect upon passage.