WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche Diagnostics
and the Rory Staunton Foundation today announced the launch of
Fly to Fight Sepsis, a national education and awareness
campaign, during the fourth annual "National Forum on Sepsis"
sponsored by the Rory Staunton Foundation and hosted this year by
the American Federation of Teachers.
"We are proud to partner with the Rory Staunton Foundation on
this important mission," said Dr. Alan
Wright, chief medical officer of Roche Diagnostics
Corporation. "Given the prevalence of sepsis in the US – more than
1.6 million annual hospitalizations - we are committed
to advancing understanding of sepsis and encourage more urgency
around awareness, assessment and prevention."
In 2016, Roche Diagnostics introduced Elecsys BRAHMS
procalcitonin (PCT) assay as a dedicated testing solution to assess
the severity of a bacterial infection and improve the management of
people with sepsis. With this clearance, Roche was the first in
vitro diagnostics company to provide a fully integrated solution
for sepsis risk assessment and management.
Fly to Fight Sepsis was inspired by aviation enthusiast,
Rory Staunton, who died from sepsis
at the age of 12 after an infection he developed from scraping his
arm in gym class was misdiagnosed. The campaign will provide
information and resources about sepsis, and also include an easy
and engaging call-to –action that can be shared on social
media.
"We are delighted to collaborate with Roche Diagnostics on this
very special campaign that honors our son Rory's love for flying,"
said Ciaran Staunton, founder of
Rory Stanton Foundation and Rory's father. "Public
understanding and elevated awareness among clinicians and hospitals
will help our mission to spare families the pain and heartbreak we
endured."
Speakers at the Fourth National Forum on Sepsis will also
include Senator Chuck Schumer
(D-NY), Randi Weingarten, President,
American Federation of Teachers, Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA), and Denise Cardo, Director, Division of Healthcare
& Quality Promotion (DHQP), Center for Disease Control &
Prevention (CDC). In addition to Fly to Fight Sepsis, a new
sepsis education program will be introduced into New York State curriculum for students K -
12.
State legislators will also be encouraged to follow New York State's lead on adopting Rory's
Regulations, which require hospitals to establish an evidence-based
sepsis protocol to ensure the proactive and standardized approach
to patients suspected of sepsis. The impact of Rory's Regulations
has been rapid and significant in New
York.
About Sepsis
- Sepsis affects 30 million people yearly
- Someone is diagnosed with sepsis every 20 seconds in the U.S.
and the incidence of cases is rising 8% every year
- In the U.S., more than 250,000 people die from sepsis every
year
- As many as 80% of sepsis deaths could be prevented with rapid
diagnosis and treatment
About Roche
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics
focused on advancing science to improve people's lives. The
combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one
roof have made Roche the leader in personalized healthcare – a
strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in
the best way possible.
Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly
differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious
diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system.
Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and
tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes
management Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better
ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable
contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient
access to medical innovations by working with all relevant
stakeholders. Twenty-nine medicines developed by Roche are included
in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential
Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and
cancer medicines. Roche has been recognized as the Group Leader in
sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life
Sciences Industry eight years in a row by the Dow Jones
Sustainability Indices (DJSI).
The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100
countries and in 2016 employed more than 94,000 people worldwide.
In 2016, Roche invested CHF 9.9
billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 50.6 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of
the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai
Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more
information, please visit www.roche.com or
usdiagnostics.roche.com.
All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected
by law.
About the Rory Staunton Foundation
September is
Sepsis awareness month and The Rory Staunton Foundation has
released a short animated video Sepsis: What You Need to Know to
Save a Life. In less than two minutes, the video gives viewers all
the information they need about sepsis and its signs. They
have also published a read-along book for young children,
co-authored by Orlaith & Kathleen
Staunton. Ouch! I Got a Cut! is available now on
Amazon and emphasizes a 'back to basics' approach to wound care:
When you get a Cut - Clean and Cover! The simple, three pronged
approach prevents infection and saves lives. Learn more at:
https://rorystauntonfoundationforsepsis.org/
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Biedess
Senior Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications
Roche Diagnostics Corporation
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 445-8716
amanda.biedess@roche.com
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SOURCE Roche Diagnostics