This sepsis app is an invaluable tool for doctors who want to track patient information and keep up with guidelines.

Sepsis remains the ninth leading cause of disease-related death and the primary cause of infection-related death in the ICU. It’s a devastating disease that results in over 250,000 deaths and 1.3 million hospitalizations per year. In February 2016, the Third International Consensus on Sepsis published “Sepsis 3.0”, the first new sepsis guidelines since 2003. The new guidelines were welcomed by many since the long interval of time since “Sepsis 2.0,” but they have already created a firestorm of controversy especially in emergency medicine. Much of this controversy is due to the move away from the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria in favor of the sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA) and qSOFA scores. I encourage everyone to read the three excellent articles published by the “Sepsis 3.0” consensus group in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

My previous “go-to” sepsis apps have been ESCAVO Sepsis and Smart Intern Sepsis. Both remain must-have apps for sepsis and utilize content from the guidelines as well as in recent publications about the treatment of sepsis such as the PROCESS and ARISE trials.

ESCAVO has done it again by creating a new app called Sepsis Timer. Their new app takes the Sepsis 3.0 guideline and accepted sepsis bundles from the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and put them into a checklist type format. The goal is to ensure the septic patient in front of you has evidence-based treatments implemented with 3- and 6-hour cut-offs. These include prompt antibiotics, IVF, labs, pressors, etc. By utilizing the hardware in the iPhone, Sepsis Timer uses timer functions and reminders to help you track patients from the moment of diagnosis until all critical tasks are completed. Furthermore, the app provides expert commentary and detailed explanations of the guidelines throughout the step-by-step checklist.

Video Review

Evidence-based medicine

Sepsis Timer provides a unique method of “implementing” the new Sepsis 3.0 guidelines and accepted sepsis treatment bundles, using a checklist based algorithm. The app takes the critical content from the various sepsis guidelines, and their own Sepsis app, and provides an easy to use app that uses timers and reminders to ensure patients receive the proper care at the right time. The app contains helpful reference level content based on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and the Sepsis 3.0 guideline.

Who would benefit from this sepsis app?

Students, nurses, residents, mid-levels, faculty in any specialty who cares for patients with sepsis.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

  • Price
    • Free

  • o High-quality checklist interface that “implements” sepsis bundles utilizing recent guidelines.

    o Uses various timers and notification system of the iPhone for reminders of tasks.

    o Detailed instructions to ensure app is properly utilized, tracking functions and stats of past timers to evaluate compliance with recommendations.

    o Expert information sections throughout app explains critical tasks and new sepsis guideline.

  • Dislikes

    o No hyperlinks to Surviving Sepsis guidelines or other key sepsis articles.

    o Doesn’t link to content in the original ESCAVO sepsis app.

    o  Not available for Android at this time.

  • Overall

    Another hit from the ESCAVO sepsis app company! This new app takes the recent changes to the sepsis guidelines and “implements” them on your phone using a slick interface, timers and notifications. This app is perfect for all providers who may be evaluating and treating septic patients and want to ensure “time hacks” are met for (ideally) improved patient care and various quality management groups. The app includes an abundance of information on sepsis throughout the app, though not as much as what is in their original and still fabulous sepsis app.

  • Overall Score
  • User Interface

    A great interface with an easy to follow algorithm and “step by step” process to evaluate patients with suspected sepsis using qSOFA and SOFA. The outstanding commentary section at times can be difficult to read.

  • Multimedia Usage

    The app has multiple built in timers and uses the notifications built into the iPhone to ensure you keep track of the critical tasks for sepsis patients. Numerous helpful information guides throughout the app.

  • Price

    App is free.

  • Real World Applicability

    This is an app that could help save lives in ER’s, medicine wards, and ICU’s today! Despite what you may think of the evidence for/against sepsis bundles, no app currently available does a better job at helping you track what needs to be done, and by when, for sepsis patients. Combined with the original ESCAVO Sepsis app, you will have a potent double dose of apps to care for sepsis patients.

  • Device Used For Review

    iPhone 8 running iOS 11.2

  • Available for DownloadiPhoneiPad