 This study will be performed at Denver Health Medical Center, a 477-bed urban, safety-net, acute-care hospital located in Denver, Colorado. The adult ED is staffed by board-certified emergency physicians at all times. These physicians supervise the care of all patients being managed by resident physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical students. Approximately 430 patients are admitted to the hospital from the ED each year with community-acquired pneumonia CAP and severe sepsis SS. 