Sepsis is well described in the literature as a leading cause of possibly preventable death in the United States. Analysis of baseline data indicated capacity to reduce mortality, significant variation in clinical practice patterns and opportunities for reducing cost per case. Following an enterprise-wide challenge to save lives, a multidisciplinary, facility-based team was organized to improve sepsis care. Systematic improvements in recognizing sepsis and standardizing care resulted in a dramatic reduction in mortality and a significant reduction in direct variable cost.