Pressure Ulcer Prevention - Interventions and Outcomes

Pressure Ulcer Prevention – Interventions and Outcomes

The Princess Alexandra Hospital Story

Our journey of organisation wide awareness and active intervention began in 1995 with our first research project focussing on pressure ulcer recognition and implementation of interventions as a result of the outcomes.  Our goal has been, and is, to reduce the incidence of pressure ulceration, to improve care, reduce organisational cost and improve patient outcomes using evidence based best practice.  Our aim is to reduce or eliminate hospital acquired pressure ulceration.

Increasing patient acuity and lack of funding are major hurdles to overcome however with world wide interest and government recognition of the cost of pressure ulcers the problem is being addressed proactively and clinical outcomes measured.

Our initial research identified education as a key to success.  Our journey from that point to today has been the passion of many clinicians within the organisation and now State wide.

We have implemented an action pathway from point of admission to community care with clear risk assessment, intervention guidelines and documentation including registration of pressure ulcers on the PRIME QH risk reporting tool.

Millions of dollars have now been spent on equipment from our base mattress to hoists and bariatric resources to best meet patient needs.

Our hospital has conducted point prevalence studies annually since 2002 and has a committee represented by multi disciplinary key stake holders including level one clinicians and a consumer representative.  Review is undertaken of all pressure ulceration and results of audits are monitored on an ongoing basis. 

Outcomes to date demonstrate a steady increase in risk assessment and decrease in point prevalence.