How our ICU decreased the rate of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.
We describe 7 strategies our intensive care unit implemented to decrease the rate of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. These strategies include the following: (1) restructured risk assessment and documentation, (2) translated numeric data into graphs for ease of understanding by staff, (3) increased staff awareness, (4) implemented "turn rounds," (5) increased prevalence assessments and redesigned structure of the skin team, (6) used evidence-based practice as a basis for care, and (7) created an Access database to track weekly prevalence.
Ballard
Narendra
N
Renown Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV 89502, USA. wrenbrn@sbcglobal.net
McCombs
Amy
A
Deboor
Stephanie
S
Strachan
Julie
J
Johnson
Mellyn
M
Smith
Melissa Jill
MJ
Stephens
Kimberly
K
Pelter
Michele M
MM
D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards*; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States