Changing pressure-redistributing mattress stocks: costs and outcomes.
There remains considerable confusion regarding the selection of appropriate pressure-redistributing support surfaces, although it is accepted that use of low-pressure foam mattresses is likely to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers compared with standard hospital mattresses. In this study, a 650- hospital replaced its mattress stock with low-pressure foam mattresses with over pounds sterling 100 000 cost savings in the first year after implementation. Incidence and prevalence data were recorded but given the challenges of interpreting apparent trends in the data (due to the lack of robust data collection methodologies and no case-mix adjustment) these data were not included.
Clark
Michael
M
Wound Healing Research Unit, Cardiff University.
D001513:Beds / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D011682:Purchasing, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology