The death of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch earlier this year stunned millions of Americans. At just 41 years old, what began as pneumonia quickly progressed into sepsis, a medical emergency that claimed his life in a matter of days.
For many people, it was their first time hearing the word sepsis. Unfortunately, too many families across Kentucky know that story all too well.
Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to an infection. It can begin with something as common as pneumonia, the flu, a urinary tract infection or even an infected cut. Left untreated, it can rapidly lead to organ failure and death. When sepsis strikes, every minute counts.
The encouraging news is that while sepsis remains one of America’s leading causes of death, many of those deaths can be prevented through earlier recognition and rapid treatment. That is why hospitals across Kentucky have spent years working together to speed up the identification and treatment of sepsis. When time is critical, preparation saves lives.
For Kentucky resident Darrell Raikes, that preparation became deeply personal. After routine knee surgery, he developed septic shock and spent weeks in a medically induced coma. He survived against extraordinary odds and now dedicates his life to helping other sepsis patients. He shares his story so others understand how quickly this condition can become life-threatening and why seeking care immediately can make all the difference. Stories like Darrell’s remind us that sepsis is not rare, and it can affect anyone, regardless of age or health.
That is why Kentucky hospitals chose collaboration over competition. In 2020, hospitals from across the Commonwealth formally launched the Kentucky Sepsis Consortium, establishing one of the nation’s most comprehensive statewide quality improvement collaboratives focused on sepsis care. Today, 104 hospitals participate, representing every Kentucky hospital with an emergency department and multiple specialty hospitals.
Together, hospitals are sharing best practices, strengthening screening protocols, and improving how quickly patients receive appropriate, evidence-based treatment based on their clinical needs. The results demonstrate the reach of this collaboration: nearly 99% of patients arriving in participating emergency departments are screened for sepsis during triage. In 2025 alone, Kentucky hospitals screened more than one and a half million emergency department patients, giving care teams an important opportunity to recognize sepsis sooner and begin treatment when it can make the greatest difference.
These numbers represent far more than performance measures. They represent parents returning home to their children and grandparents celebrating another birthday. They also represent friends, neighbors and coworkers getting another chance because someone recognized the warning signs before it was too late.
Improving sepsis care is not limited to what happens inside hospital walls; it also depends on raising awareness in communities across Kentucky. The Kentucky Senate unanimously passed Dayo’s Resolution, named after Raikes, to increase awareness of this life-threatening condition. Members of both political parties in the state legislature and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear have continued to recognize Sepsis Awareness Month because protecting patients is not a political issue. It is a shared responsibility.
Yet despite this progress, public awareness remains far too low. Many people do not recognize when an infection may be developing into sepsis. Warning signs can include fever or chills, confusion, extreme pain or discomfort, difficulty breathing, clammy or sweaty skin, and unusual sleepiness. If an infection is accompanied by these symptoms or a person’s condition is rapidly worsening, seek medical care immediately and ask, “Could this be sepsis?” Learn the signs, trust your instincts, and do not wait. With sepsis, tomorrow may be too late.
As Sepsis Awareness Month approaches, Kentucky hospitals are not simply asking people to learn a new medical term. We are asking families to recognize sepsis as a medical emergency and to seek swift medical attention when symptoms appear.
To learn more about sepsis and Kentucky’s innovative approach to reducing mortality and morbidity through rapid screening and evidence-based treatment, visit the Kentucky Hospital Association’s Kentucky Sepsis Consortium page.
The Kentucky Sepsis Consortium demonstrates what is possible when hospitals work together with one goal: delivering better care for every patient who walks through our doors. Quality improvement is often measured through data, dashboards and clinical benchmarks. These measures matter because they help hospitals improve. But the true measure of success is much simpler: it is the Kentuckians who return home to their families because someone recognized sepsis just a little sooner. That is the story Kentucky hospitals are proud to tell, not only during Sepsis Awareness Month, but every day of the year.
Melanie Landrum is interim CEO and senior vice president of the Kentucky Hospital Association.