The Healthy Skin Project Was Initiated As A Result Of Increasing Cost For The Treatment And Diagnosis Of Pressure

The research article "What influences the impact of pressure ulcers on health-related quality of life? A qualitative patient-focused exploration of contributory factors" was recently published (2012) in the Journal of Tissue Viability by Gorecki, Nixon, Madill, Firth, and Brown. This is a qualitative study.

A study conducted over seven years by Amir et al (2011) showed a significant decline of pressure ulcer development after three years of the study. This was partly due to strategies being implemented in regards to repositioning along with adequate nutrition, pressure ulcer prevention information leaflets were given to patients and skin assessments (Amir et al., 2011). It must also be considered that different patients will have different comorbidities and the use of a risk assessment tool is vital to assess and implementing a plan for pressure ulcer prevention according to the patient’s score (Tannen et al., 2010).

Pressure ulcers are a problem and can lead to poor patient outcomes as well as hospital fines. Evidence based studies have shown that “the average cost of care in an acute care hospital for a patient with a stage III or stage IV pressure ulcer reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is $43,180” (Jackson, 2008). Pressure ulcers and other skin breakdowns are among the most significant adverse events causing distress for patients and their care givers and compromising patients’ recovery from illness or injury (Gardiner, 2008). It is the tasks of nurses to ensure prevention of these complications is part of the daily care regimen.

“Pressure ulcers are key clinical indicators of the standard and effectiveness of care (Elliott, Fox & McKinley, 2008).” L.M. was at high risk for pressure ulcers for multiple factors such as immobility, poor nutrition, age, and health. Therefore, I used the Braden Scale as a quality indicator in order to assess the risk of pressure ulcers and also to

Pressure ulcers during a hospital admission are preventable. Assessment and early intervention can stop skin breakdown before it begins. Many factors regarding Mr. J’s condition placed him at a high risk regarding nursing indicators. Mild dementia, recent fall and a fractured hip all require a high level of nursing care and indicates preventative practice. Upon assessment, precautions should be in place to deter further complications. The elderly are more

To start the search for evidence within University Hospital, questions were asked in regards to pressure ulcers. Monthly updates are often sent out via email from the wound care team to keep everyone up to date on knowledge. While there was informative numbers within those updates, this information falls short according to Moore, Webster, & Samuriwo (2015). The main limitation of the study is the lack of a control group in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. There is no clarity in the specific criterion that contributed to improved clinical outcomes. Teams used more than one method in the research project. Also, there is no study that meant the inclusion criteria in the random clinical trials. The lack of standardized

While nurses encounter patients with pressure ulcers in home care and acute care settings, they are mainly a problem with elderly adults in long term care facilities. This is because of decreased sensory perception, decreased activity and mobility, skin moisture from incontinence, poor nutritional intake, and friction and shear (Stotts and Gunningberg, 2007).

Pressure ulcers are areas of localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure. (Stechmiller et al., 2008) Pressure ulcers still one of the most significant health problem in our hospitals today, It affects on patients quality of life patient self-image and how long they will stay in hospital then the cost of patient treatment . Moore (2005) estimate that it costs a quarter of a million euro’s per annum to manage pressure ulcers in hospital and community settings across Ireland .which allows one to take immediate actions and prevent the ulcer if possible. To support pressure ulcer risk assessment several standardized pressure ulcer risk assessment scales have been introduced

Pressure ulcers are a widespread and often underestimated health problem in the UK. They occur in 4-10% of patients admitted to hospital (Ward et al, 2010).

The assessment was done in my patient’s room at the Memorial South Hospital on 12th of April, 2015. During the interview, I have used active listening, holistic approach, and focus interview, open-ended and closed-ended questions to determine the cause of the patient’s skin Integrity; however, it can be characterized as a Stage II pressure ulcer; therefore, by using this therapeutic communication help me to get a better understanding of what the patient is experiencing and the type of psychosocial problem exists. As a student nurse, my chief goal of therapy is to monitor my patient skin integrity and prevent infection and further skin breakdown. The interview went well for the first time; however, after the interview, I have educated the patient

Pressure ulcers that occur in the long term care setting are increasing in the number of incidences each year in the United States. Consequences and complications of pressure ulcer development include pain, sepsis, cellulitis, bone, and joint infections. Pressure ulcers are also associated with an increased morbidity and mortality rate, negative emotional and physical effects on patients and caregivers, and are the second leading cause of litigation in long term care facilities. The cost of treatment for pressure ulcers in the United States is estimated at 11 billion dollars annually. This has led to many programs that focus on education and intervention to prevent the development of pressure ulcers, even being addressed in public initiatives such as Healthy People 2010. Appropriate information and education for healthcare providers, patients, and families has proven to be a key factor in the prevention of pressure ulcer development. Wound management is an area of healthcare that must include a comprehensive plan for the best outcome. A care plan that includes a well-educated care team composed of various disciplines working together for holistic care of each patient has seen the best results for patients who suffer from pressure ulcers.

Implementing prevention plan for pressure ulcers would become a marker for a quality of care, which ultimately leads to improvement of quality by making healthcare more reliable, accessible, patient-centered and safe. As a part of the pressure ulcer prevention plan effort, one should regularly assess the pressure ulcer rates and practices. Steps to regularly monitor are: An outcome which can be pressure ulcer prevalence or incidence rates. Minimum one to two care processes (ex: skin assessment). Key aspects of the organizational structure to support best care practices. Below are the steps that will help to develop processes and measures for assessing pressure ulcer and practices.

The article by Schindler, (2011) was chosen because of the clinical relevance to direct patient care and patients acquiring pressure ulcer. The articile was retrieved and summarized in the graphic below. Further research was collected to evaluate other aspects of the same interventions and a annotated bibiliography was created. The evience was reviewed for relevance and synthesized as it relates to nursing practice and acquiring pressure ulcers.

The INTACT trial showed a significant reduction in pressure ulcers (PU) incidence in the intervention group at the hospital (cluster) level, but this difference was not significant at the

Patients get a pressure ulcer for a legion of rationalities. According to Alene Burke of Nursing Assistant Education, some of the elements why people get them which she cited from Nettina, S. (2009), are old age, deficient mobility, lack of moisture, and insufficient diet. Moreover, factors like neurological and other physical problems, friction and shearing, bed and chairs with wrinkled linens or hard objects and pressure ulcers in the past may similarly predispose pressure ulcer. This observations implies that in nursing care pressure ulcers are prospected as negligence, however it is arrogated that pressure ulcers are avoidable on the condition that prime level of care is continuously rendered to patients and residents. (Burke 2010).