pressure injuries

why is this a priority for us?

• Pressure injuries occur when items push against the skin for prolonged periods and damage the skin and tissue underneath
• These can progress to open wounds and lead to infection, scarring, and prolonged hospitalization

who’s at greatest risk?

• Patients who are very sick, and those who are not moving much
• Patients who are not well nourished
• Patients who have objects such as casts, braces, face masks, or even oxygen sensors which can create pressure on the skin

what are we doing to help reduce pressure injuries?

• Routine checking of skin by a dedicated group of nurses, especially around medical devices
• Rotating oxygen probes twice daily
• Using moisture barrier creams with diaper changes
• Making sure we use the right bed for each patient
• Assessing patients for those who are at high risk for development of pressure injuries

what do we measure?

• We measure pressure injuries at various stages, depending on how much tissue damage has occurred
• We want to do everything we can to prevent pressure injuries, but when they do begin to occur detect them at their earliest stages before there is skin breakdown.
• We calculate our rate as pressure injuries (stage 3 and higher) per 1000 patient days