Search

Purpose: The principal aim of this study was to determine the hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) rate before and after introduction of a repositioning device, measure staff-perceived level of exertion with device use, and assess return on investment., Design: 1 group, before-and-after study., Subjects and Setting: The sample comprised 717 patients cared for in a 17-bed intensive care unit. The study setting was the neonatal intensive care unit at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center located in the mid-Atlantic United States (Portsmouth, Virginia)., Methods: A safe patient-handling intervention was implemented as part of a quality improvement initiative. The effect of this system was measured using several outcome measures: (1) HAPI occurrences on the sacral area and buttocks, (2) perceived effort of use by staff, and (3) cost analysis. We used the validated Borg Scale to measure perceived exertion that was ranked on a scale from 6 to 20, where higher scores indicate greater exertion. Cost comparisons were completed before and after introduction of the patient-repositioning system. Cost analysis was determined using internal dollar amounts calculated for each stage of pressure injury. The return on investment was calculated by comparing the cost of HAPIs and the product after the intervention with the costs of HAPIs before the intervention., Results: Analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in HAPI occurrence from 1.3% to 0% (P = .004) when baseline manual repositioning (standard of care) was compared with use of the repositioning system. Caregivers reported significantly less exertion when using the repositioning device as compared with standard of care repositioning (P < .001). The return on investment was estimated to be $16,911., Conclusion: Use of a repositioning device resulted in significantly reduced HAPIs. Perceived exertion for repositioning the patient with a repositioning device was significantly less than repositioning with standard of care. A cost analysis estimated a return on investment as a result of the intervention on HAPI prevention.

Background: Cardiac surgery patients are among those most at risk for developing pressure ulcers (PUs), with a reported incidence as high as 29.5%. Although numerous studies documenting PU risk factors and prevention strategies exist, the availability of literature examining risk factors specific to the cardiac surgery population is limited., Aim: A systematic review was completed that aimed to identify the risk factors associated with PU development in critically ill, adult, cardiac surgery patients., Methods: The MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched. Studies that focused on PU risk factors in critical care, surgical intensive care, or cardiac surgery populations and used PU occurrences as an outcome variable were included in the review., Findings: Twelve high-quality studies were retrieved and included in the review; they revealed 30 potential PU risk factors. Current evidence is limited in 2 important ways. First, the impact of intraoperative factors, such as cardiopulmonary bypass time or body temperature, appears to be underexplored. Second, a substantive discussion of the risk factors associated specifically with deep tissue injuries, a unique PU category, is absent., Conclusion: The relatively high PU incidence among cardiac surgery patients suggests that typical PU prevention methods are insufficient for this population. Targeted prevention measures must be developed and implemented. Completion of this task required identification of risk factors unique to this population. Specific risk factors likely to increase risk among cardiac surgery patients include prolonged exposure to pressure during long surgical procedures, vascular disease, and/or vasopressor use postoperatively. Additional research concerning risk factors specific to this population is urgently needed.

Chronic wounds are rising in prevalence and creating significant socioeconomic burdens for patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Therefore, it is now more important than ever that clinicians follow evidence-based guidelines for wound care when developing personalized treatment plans for their patients with chronic wounds. Evidence-based guidelines for treating venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers, the 3 main categories of chronic wounds, focus primarily on biologic therapies. However, there are also evidence-based guidelines for treating behavioral risks to poor healing, such as smoking, which should be incorporated into treatment plans when appropriate. The purpose of this article was to review the mechanisms through which smoking adversely impacts the wound healing process, and propose strategies for incorporating evidence-based guidelines for treating tobacco dependence into treatment plans for patients with chronic wounds who smoke.

This article describes the process used to establish a systemwide, sustainable team of staff nurses to serve as unit-based resource nurses charged with aiding colleagues in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of pressure ulcers. A multidisciplinary program was developed to address barriers in preventing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, including incomplete knowledge of causative factors, confusion in determining wound etiology, incorrect staging, inaccurate Braden Scale scoring, and inconsistent application of evidence-supported prevention interventions. The Resource Nurse Program was initiated in a community-based 511-bed, acute care teaching hospital located in the Midwestern United States.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' regulations regarding nonpayment for hospital-acquired conditions such as pressure ulcers have prompted a marked increase in focus on preventive care. Our hospital also used this change in payment policy as an opportunity to strengthen our pressure ulcer prevention practices. We used an 8-spoke prevention wheel to develop and implement practice changes that reduced pressure ulcer incidence from 7.3% to 1.3% in 3 years. Because it is about the journey, we will describe the mechanisms we designed and implemented, and identify strategies that worked or did not work as we promulgated a quality improvement process for pressure ulcer prevention in our large urban hospital center.

Heel pressure ulcers (PUs) are common in long-term healthcare settings. Early identification of risk and the use of preventive measures are central to reducing the morbidity, mortality, and high medical costs associated with heel PUs. A Quality Improvement Process was initated based on a tailored protocol, in-service education program, and a heel protective device was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The Braden Scale was used to evaluate PU risk in 550 patients in a long-term healthcare facility. Patients with a Braden Scale score of 18 or less and with 1 of 7 high-risk comorbidities were considered at high risk for PUs, and this prompted a more aggressive prevention program that included a protocol for reducing the risk of heel ulceration. The number of hospital-acquired heel PUs during the 6-month preintervention period was 39. Following the intervention, there were 2 occurrences, representing a 95% reduction in heel ulcers between the 2 periods. After the cost of 2 heel protectors for 550 at-risk patients was subtracted from the estimated cost of treating the 37 heel ulcers prevented, the estimated cost savings was calculated to be between $12,400 and $1,048,400.

The cost of treating a hospital-acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) places a significant burden on healthcare facilities. Associated expenses potentially include increased supplies, equipment, specialty beds, staffing, nutritional support, laboratory testing, and hospital length of stay. The quarterly HAPU data revealed an increased prevalence in our 25-bed intermediate care unit at Central DuPage Hospital at Winfield, Illinois. There were 6 occurrences of HAPU during fiscal year 2005 to fiscal year 2006, and 5 occurred during fiscal year 2006 to 2007. Based on these data, our unit quality council investigated contributory factors and reviewed current tools and standards of practice related to pressure ulcer prevention. Strategic plans were developed to reduce the incidence of HAPU. Follow-up monitoring revealed no HAPU occurrence from October 2006 through September 2007. Pressure ulcer prevention strategies proved effective in reducing incidence during a 1-year period and have been approved as standards of practice for the unit.

This study compared clinical outcomes and nursing labor costs associated with (a) balsam Peru, hydrogenated castor oil, and trypsin (BCT) ointment; (b) BCT + Other; and (c) Other treatments in 2014 wound episodes occurring in 861 patients (mean 2.34 wounds/patient). Treatment with BCT ointment or BCT + Other was associated with a higher healing rate (P < .05). No Stage 1 or 2 ulcer treated with BCT ointment progressed, compared with 13.8% treated with BCT + Other and 13.4% treated with Other. The reported mean duration of treatment and time to heal were shorter for ulcers treated with BCT ointment, but differences did not reach significance, possibly because of the variability in reported treatment times. Mean daily nursing labor costs were lower for treatment with BCT than Other ($50.8 vs $61.7, P < .05). These data suggest that treatment of Stage 1 or 2 ulcers with BCT may be associated with shorter treatment time and time to heal and a potential reduction in treatment-related nursing labor costs.

Objective: To describe pressure ulcer preventive interventions and their cost, and to compare the preventive intervention use and cost with level of risk., Design: Comparative, descriptive design., Setting and Subjects: A large midwestern Veteran's Affairs Medical Center with 260 long-term care beds. Thirty-one chair- or bed-bound residents from 1 long-term care unit comprised the study sample., Main Outcome Measures: The outcome variables included demographic information (patient record), Braden Risk Assessment score, institutional risk assessment score (Pressure Ulcer Risk Tool), type and frequency of preventive interventions, and the related costs., Methods: Subjects were assessed on a weekly basis for type and frequency of preventive intervention and for the development of a pressure ulcer. Each subject was observed until death, discharge, pressure ulcer formation, or the end of the 3-month study period., Results: The 3-month pressure ulcer incidence rate was 13%. All subjects were at risk for pressure ulcer development according to Braden scores; whereas only 74% were assessed at risk with use of the facility's risk assessment tool. Preventive measures included regular repositioning (87%); 67% were placed on mattress support surfaces. There was no relationship between level of risk (facility risk tool score) and type of prevention used. The total cost of pressure ulcer prevention to the nursing unit was $14,926, representing a mean of $497 per subject, and $5.55 per subject per day., Conclusion: As compared with previous studies, the higher cost of prevention described in this study may be attributed to inadequate linkage of preventive interventions to risk level.

The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of admission, discharge, and readmission between hospital and long-term care facility among a group of Florida long-term care facility residents with pressure ulcers whose care was paid for by Medicaid. A patient-specific, longitudinal claims history database was constructed from data provided by the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. This database was used to determine and analyze hospital admissions for pressure ulcer care among Medicaid recipients cared for in a long-term care facility. Analysis of the data determined that more than half of the Medicaid-covered long-term care facility residents who formed the target study group (54.57%) had multiple hospital admissions associated with pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcer hospital admissions amounted to a program cost of $9.9 million.

The monitoring of specialty bed use by the certified ET nurse and the NQAC has been in full implementation since June 1989 with significant yearly cost reductions in the use of specialty care beds. The $238,000 costs from fiscal year 1987 (July 1986 to June 30, 1987) were reduced to $60,000 in fiscal year 1989 with an approximate cost savings of 75%. Additional cost savings have been achieved through the implementation of the other recommendations in this study. Although cost savings would have resulted from a stricter policy in specialty bed approval and utilization alone, such savings probably would have affected the quality of patient care. This project allowed nursing and medical staff members to work with the departments of Administration and Finance to ensure that patient care would not be significantly affected. Significant cost savings were obtained through use of the five interventions that are indicated in the introduction. Nursing was permitted to examine its own practice and implement changes in documentation, nursing standards, skin-care products, policies and procedures, and in other areas to strive for clinical excellence as monitored through its quality assurance plan. The addition of a certified ET nurse to coordinate a hospital-wide multidisciplinary approach that is consistent with and clinically relevant to current practice standards is essential to a successful program for pressure-sore prevention and management within the current reimbursement systems.