Pressure ulcer prevention interventions for community nursing patients.

A community pressure ulcer prevalence study conducted in a health organisation in NSW has revealed patients living at home can experience extended waiting time for equipment to be prescribed by occupational therapists. This can result in delays in accessing pressure-relieving devices in community settings. Therefore, several strategies have been implemented in the Greater Newcastle Cluster (GNC), one of the Primary and Community Health Network in Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD), NSW. These various interventions include: systems to improve documentation; an alert notification which has been created in the electronic medical record database; promotion of the HNELHD pressure ulcer prevention and management online education programme; and prompt access to effective pressure redistribution equipment (Repose) in the community setting. Repose is a compact, lightweight pressure-redistributing device that does not have manual handling limitations. This strategy has enhanced the community nurses' capacity to prescribe and provide devices immediately for those patients who are identified at risk of pressure injury whilst waiting for further assessment and delivery of further pressure redistributing equipment. Our preliminary audit results have shown that Repose is effective in preventing wounds and facilitating healing of pressure ulcers while delivering high patient satisfaction. These strategies allow evidence-based best practice to be embedded in daily practice to improve patient safety systems that will permit future monitoring of pressure injury prevention effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]