title: The role of interventional patient hygiene in improving clinical and economic outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To successfully educate, integrate, and empower nonlicensed personnel in the surgical intensive care unit in the use of a skin care protocol to maintain and improve skin integrity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data related to alterations in skin integrity were collected over 4 months, representing approximately 2000 patient-days. A total of 97 specific events representing 121 "areas of concern" were identified by nonlicensed personnel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonlicensed staff members' knowledge in 6 key areas related to pressure ulcer (PrU) development was surveyed before and after implementation of an interventional patient hygiene (IPH) program incorporating comprehensive bathing and incontinence protocols. A unique point-of-use skin inspection tool was used by nonlicensed personnel to communicate areas of concern to licensed personnel (registered nurses [RNs]).
  
  
  METHODS
  Reduction in PrUs and improvement in nonlicensed staff knowledge of facility protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of new PrUs decreased from 7.14% at baseline to 0% at the end of the study. Nonlicensed staff knowledge increased to 100% in all 6 knowledge areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of an IPH program incorporating comprehensive bathing and incontinence management resulted in enhanced communication between nonlicensed staff and RNs as well as improved patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Surgery and Trauma Patient Care Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Devin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benoit
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce