Identifying and Assessing The Elements For a Successful Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program (PUPP)

The purpose of this abstract is to describe the process and progress of a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program (PUPP) lead by the Nurse Safety Scholar-in-Residence and an accrediting resource agent. This abstract will focus on the PUPP elements, its structures and participants, and tools developed to assess all elements of the program and their effectiveness to decrease pressure ulcer occurrence. 

Phase I of this project was introduced in 2008 describing the project plan to translate safe patient care from evidence to the bedside. During phase 1, there were 4 U.S. hospitals participating in the project evaluating barriers to implementing pressure ulcer prevention programs and to provide healthcare staff with appropriate and effective interventions required to decrease pressure ulcer occurrences. The project identified elements contributing more successful compliance of the PUPP and identified ways to address gaps promoting movement toward a more successful program. The 4 project sites utilizing a PUP Inventory questionnaire completed a PUPP hospital assessment. The PUP inventory revealed results helping address specific gaps and barriers to effective implementation of PUP identifying the top 3 issues needing to be addressed at each institution. 

The project is now in Phase II with 5 participating U.S hospitals continuing the project plan to promote best practices in maintaining skin integrity and provide safe care to reduce pressure ulcers. This phase is in progress and continues to identify ways to address gaps and improve performance based on pressure ulcer prevention recommendations from Phase I. These gaps and recommendations as well as ongoing evaluations of the project will be revealed in this presentation. In summary, there is general agreement that implementing a PUPP and developing strategies to comply with pressure ulcer prevention will lead to avoidance of pressure ulcers.