AI tool to flag sepsis risk in Western Sydney emergency rooms
Western Sydney hospitals are testing an AI tool called SAFE-WAIT to identify sepsis risks in emergency room patients. The system monitors patients in real-time to assist clinicians in detecting early signs of the life-threatening condition.
Why it matters
AI-driven diagnostic tools have the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes in overcrowded emergency departments by prioritizing high-risk cases.
An artificial intelligence model designed to identify patients at risk of sepsis while they wait for emergency care will be tested across five Western Sydney hospitals following promising early work at Westmead Hospital.
The SAFE-WAIT system assesses patients in near real time, helping clinicians identify those whose condition may be deteriorating before the usual signs of sepsis become apparent.
Project lead Dr Gladis Kabil said the technology was intended to support clinical judgement in busy emergency departments.
“The model is trying to help the clinician to see, in a crowded waiting room, those who might be quietly developing sepsis,” Kabil said.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to an infection, which can damage organs and become fatal without prompt treatment.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in