Objective: To achieve an increase in best practices for pressure ulcer prevention and ultimately decrease the incidence of pressure ulcers in Minnesota Hospitals

Outcomes: The Minnesota Hospital Association is supporting the SAFE SKIN call-to-action involving close to 100 hospitals working together to implement pressure ulcer prevention best practices outlined in an implementation roadmap (SAFE SKIN). The project is still underway, but the changes that have been demonstrated to date include:

• Instituting skin safety teams to support the SAFE SKIN work.
  
• Designating a SAFE SKIN coordinator.
  
• Developing a concurrent reporting process for all stages of nosocomial pressure ulcers.
  
• Incorporating SAFE SKIN education into new employee orientation and performance competencies.
  
• Disseminating patient/family education tools for skin safety.
  
• Requiring and documenting Braden/Braden Q pressure ulcer assessments upon admission and daily.
  
• Requiring and documenting skin inspection every shift for high-risk patients and daily for all other patients at a minimum.
  
• Requiring and documenting every two hour repositioning for patients with impaired sensory perception, mobility and activity.
  
• Providing easy access to support surfaces.
  
• Standardizing and limiting the formulary for perineal products.
  
• Consulting with dietary services for patients at risk for pressure ulcers.
  

References:
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society: Guideline for prevention and management of pressure ulcers, Glenview, Il, 2003, Author.

Skin Safety: Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement, www.icsi,org

 *S-Skin Safety Coordination 
  A- Accurate And Concurrent Reporting 
  F- Facility Expectations, Staff Education And Acountability
  E-Education For Patients And Families 
  S-Skin Inspection And Risk Assessment
  K- Keep Pressure Off — Minimize Pressure, Friction, Shear
  I-Incontinence/ Moisture Skin Protection
  N- Nutrition Is Optimized