Building a Team of Unit Based Skin Care Champions

PROBLEM:  Prior to Oct 2007, our 719-bed, Level 1 Trauma Center, had inconsistent prevalence data collection across all inpatient care units and the role of the unit Skin Care Champion (SCC) varied in regard to responsibilities and expertise. 

 STRATEGY and IMPLEMENTATION: A Steering Committee was created to benchmark best practice and develop the role of the Unit SCC to serve as the local expert in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, provide resources to their colleagues, collect quarterly prevalence and incidence data and drive unit-based performance improvement activities. To increase awareness of the nursing sensitive nature of the problem at large and within the institution the steering committee worked closely with Nursing Leadership to ensure unit management endorsement and expectations of their employees.  One RN from every inpatient unit was recruited to participate in an educational session to review the expectations of the SCC and build the foundation for our team. Monthly two-hour educational sessions were scheduled to build the skills of the SCC and provide educational materials for dissemination on the units.  To maintain sustainability of this initiative SCCs and their Clinical Managers complete an annual agreement to participate that clearly delineates their accountability to participate in the monthly scheduled activities.  By participating in this Quality Initiative, SCC are eligible to apply for advancement on the clinical ladder.

 RESULTS: From 2007 to the present our facility has decreased nosocomial pressure ulcer incidence from 11.8 % to 3.3%. Stage III and IV ulcers have been virtually eliminated in all areas. An intranet website has been developed to house all educational materials associated with the project and a list of the unit SCCs to allow for hospital wide access to a Champion's expertise twenty four hours a day.