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PURPOSE: Improve the quality of care for high risk patients in the Medical ICU and Surgical ICU by standardizing care interventions which will lead to the decreased incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers and improve Skin PI study results.
SUBJECTS: Quality improvement project was conducted in the Medical/Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and the Surgical Intensive Care Unit in a Level II Trauma hospital in Columbus, OH. These units have an adult population which includes cardiac arrest, post trauma surgery and medically unstable patients.
METHOD: Using the Braden Scale skin risk assessment tool and previously published criteria of at risk ICU patients, we initiated the application of the absorbent soft silicone self-adherent bordered foam dressing to the sacralcoccogeal area. The study consisted of 2 phases that spanned a 2 month period. Phase 1 was limited to the SICU and MCICU only and consisted of maintaining the dressing only while the patient was in the ICU and Phase 2 involved following the patient who had the dressing in place to other units within the hospital.
RESULTS: At the conclusion of each phase of the study the skin integrity was maintained on all patients. Patients presenting with Stage II pressure ulcers showed improvement when foam dressing remained in place. Skin PI done during the study time frame showed 0% incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers which is a significant improvement for these units which reported prior results of 20% incidence for SICU and 40% incidence for MCICU.
CONCLUSION: With the use of the absorbent soft silicone self-adherent bordered foam, quality of care for the ICU patient improved as evidenced by a notable decrease in the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.