title: Inpatient Pressure Ulcer Prevalence in an Acute Care Hospital Using Evidence-Based Practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A national goal was set in 2004 for decreasing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs). A mean to achieve that goal was initiated in 2005 with long-term care facilities. Acute care facilities, with encouragement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, took action.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Pressure ulcer prevention efforts at MaineGeneral Medical Center (MGMC), a 192-bed acute care hospital in Augusta, Maine, sought to reduce HAPU prevalence from a mean of 7.8% in 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study over a 10-year period, from 2005 through 2014, tracked HAPUs and evidence-based practice (EBP) initiatives to decrease the annual mean prevalence rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual mean HAPU prevalence rate of 7.8% in 2005 decreased to 1.4% in 2011, then maintaining this level through 2014 at MGMC. Evidence-based practices for pressure ulcer prevention were implemented using data collection tools from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators; guidelines from the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel; and procedural guidance tools from the 5 Million Lives Campaign and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accurate data collection methods and evidence-based guidelines are vital to improving care; yet planning with annual review, fostering an EBP culture, by-in of stakeholders, and education, are the means to long-term consistent implementation of pressure ulcer prevention measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Keys to decreasing and maintaining the rate were based on effective scientific evidence for prevention of pressure ulcers: assessment tools, education, planning guidance, documentation, and evidence-based practice guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Wound Care Coordinator, Wound Healing Clinic, MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, ME.
authors.forename: M Elizabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.affiliation: Unit Manager, Wound Healing Clinic, MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, ME.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007297:Inpatients; D008281:Maine; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000451:nursing*; D015995:Prevalence; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Pressure ulcer prevention; acute care; evidence-based practice; hospital-acquired; prevalence rate