Partnering with industry using survey and data-base software to adapt pressure ulcer prevention protocols: A pilot project

Background: Currently there are hospitals that have the resources to collect pressure ulcer prevalence and incidence (P & I) data. There is another group of hospitals experiencing budget cuts and personnel shortages that do not have the resources to collect and analyze these important and necessary data. Partnering with industry can defer some of these costs.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to facilitate the development and implementation of a process to collect and analyze pressure ulcer (P & I) data using commercially available software for hospitals that do not have access to these resources.

Objective: The objectives for this project were to: (a) develop a custom data collection tool for each of the hospitals enrolled in the pilot project, (b) provide custom data analysis based on the data points collected, (c) provide a user-friendly report for the CWOCN to adapt their own pressure ulcer prevention protocols if necessary to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers, and (d) help the CWOCN provide emerging prevalence and incidence to hospital administrators.

Method: In the pilot phase of this project, four hospitals in the United States were enrolled in the program. A custom data collection tool was developed for each participating hospital based on their specific needs.  Data was collected and entered into the software program and verified by two people.

Outcomes: Results provided in a user-friendly report included, but were not limited to: risk assessment data, rates of prevalence and incidence, staging of ulcers found, whether the ulcer was device related and presence on admission status.

Recommendations for the future: Moving forward as more hospitals are enrolled in the program the data will be entered by the hospital to promote ownership of the data and to reduce transcription errors.