Achieving a Common Goal of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Through Interprofessional Team Work

Purpose:  To create an effective interprofessional pressure ulcer prevention program. 
Objective: Barriers to a successful program included:

• No identification of community versus hospital acquired pressure ulcers
  
• Disconnect in documentation systems between inpatient and outpatient areas
  
• Lack of appropriate support surfaces
  
• Inconsistent  risk assessment and prevention strategies education
  
• Poor data collection processes that did not accurately reflect current practices
  

To achieve consistent safe practices throughout the institution thereby improving patient care, the following priorities were set:

• Improving quarterly pressure ulcer data collection process and providing educational opportunities
  
• Involving perioperative services as key players
  
• Procuring appropriate support surfaces throughout the facility
  

Outcomes:  The first priority was achieved by creating a team approach, gaining administrative buy-in, providing education, and identifying practice deficiencies and successes.  The team effort reduced data collection time from 8 to 2.5 hours.  Hospital information system glitches affecting data were detected, corrected, and areas for improvement more easily identified.  Staff described the day as the “best hands-on” educational experience.  The second priority was achieved through an education program and a newly developed medical record form.  Perioperative service has identified over 30 community-acquired pressure ulcers and now uses wristbands to identify patients at high risk postoperatively.  A monthly perioperative skin care newsletter is distributed house-wide.  The third priority was achieved after piloting three pressure redistribution surfaces involving many disciplines, departments, and patients.   Additionally, a large percentage of the old mattresses were donated to a third world country, further lowering cost. 
Through our efforts, the hospital acquired pressure ulcer rate decreased from 7.3% to 3.4% in the past year and a half.  Adding creativity to the processes has augmented outcomes by involving many disciplines and departments in efforts to prevent and treat pressure ulcers.