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Washington Hospital Center, a level 1 trauma center and the largest hospital in the nation's capital serves the metropolitan area with 926 licensed beds, and during fiscal year 2008 over 4,000 of the region's most experienced clinical staff provided care for over 440,000 patients.
To address pressure ulcer rates in July 2007 the Interdisciplinary Wound Team formed. At the inception an as-is assessment was completed followed by creation of Team Charter and in December 2007 all clinical associates were required to complete pressure ulcer training. Key licensed providers also orient with the team. The wound care formulary was reviewed to insure product availability for comprehensive care followed by weekly interdisciplinary rounds at the patient’s bedside.
In October 2008 tools were provided to improve documentation and tracking of pressure ulcers present on admission as well as hospital acquired were implemented. This process improvement included guidelines for evidenced-based topical therapy.
March 2009 began training of 62 clinical associates as Wound Resource Nurses (WRN). The WRNs received >10 hours of education to ensure unit-based success in achieving the responsibilities assigned to their advanced role.
August 2009 began the trial of two protocols: Pressure Ulcer Prevention & Treatment and Interdisciplinary Wound Protocol. These protocols give the bedside-clinician the tools needed to care for patients and resources to call for help. This trial is occurring on two units with a combined capacity to serve 60 patients. At the trial culmination the groups will identify areas for improvement and best practices prior to house-wide implementation.
Through these key initiatives WHC has reached our FY09 goal of better than 50th percentile for hospital acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) when compared to a national benchmark and has defined our FY10 goal to achieve 25th percentile or better. These key initiatives and others lay the groundwork for continued FY10 improvements.
To address pressure ulcer rates in July 2007 the Interdisciplinary Wound Team formed. At the inception an as-is assessment was completed followed by creation of Team Charter and in December 2007 all clinical associates were required to complete pressure ulcer training. Key licensed providers also orient with the team. The wound care formulary was reviewed to insure product availability for comprehensive care followed by weekly interdisciplinary rounds at the patient’s bedside.
In October 2008 tools were provided to improve documentation and tracking of pressure ulcers present on admission as well as hospital acquired were implemented. This process improvement included guidelines for evidenced-based topical therapy.
March 2009 began training of 62 clinical associates as Wound Resource Nurses (WRN). The WRNs received >10 hours of education to ensure unit-based success in achieving the responsibilities assigned to their advanced role.
August 2009 began the trial of two protocols: Pressure Ulcer Prevention & Treatment and Interdisciplinary Wound Protocol. These protocols give the bedside-clinician the tools needed to care for patients and resources to call for help. This trial is occurring on two units with a combined capacity to serve 60 patients. At the trial culmination the groups will identify areas for improvement and best practices prior to house-wide implementation.
Through these key initiatives WHC has reached our FY09 goal of better than 50th percentile for hospital acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) when compared to a national benchmark and has defined our FY10 goal to achieve 25th percentile or better. These key initiatives and others lay the groundwork for continued FY10 improvements.