Specialty Beds/Mattresses Making the Right Decision

POSTER Presentation   In February 2007 a specail bed committe was formerd to initiate a process improvement project.  The goals were to decrease confusion about specialty bed/mattress selection and improper selection, to develop specific clinical indicators for specailty beds/mattress, reduce delays in placing patients on specialty beds/mattresses on off shift and holidays, standardize best practices around the clock, reduce hospital acquired pressure ulcer development, and potential cost savings for specialty beds/mattress utilization.

Through the collabrative work of nurse experts on the committee, two valuable tools were developed.They are the Specialty Beds/Mattresses Resource Guide  and the Specialty Bed Decision Tree.  Inservices on the use of the tools were given to a core group of nurses responsible for assessing patients and approving the beds.   Hospital-wide nursing staff were introduced to the process during a two day Wound Care Fair.

The new process has suceeded in cutting down on delays in placing patients on special beds/mattresses,  the right patient is being placed on the right bed, cost savings are being tracted at this time.  Hospital acquired pressure ulcer rate monitored (NDNQI) quarterly are declining.