Reduction of Pressure Ulcers Vitally Important for Patient Safety

Two hospitals in Wisconsin are reporting that some of their patients have contracted hospital-aquired bedsores at a rate of more than twice the national average, according to a recent article in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

As writer Doug Schneider notes, "Bedsores — a common risk in patients confined to bed for long periods — are less common than they were a decade or two ago, but still can lead to complications ranging from painful infections to a type of cancer."

To address this need, INQRI researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a sustainable, system-wide program for pressure ulcer prevention that enhances mobility of long-term care (LTC) residents. The primary goal, under nursing's leadership, is to reduce LTC facility-acquired pressure ulcer incidence by 50% using a cost-effective innovative program to increase resident active or passive movement.  The team has received widespread recognition for their innovative program which involves playing music over a loudspeaker every two hours as a prompt for caregivers to make sure residents are repositioned.

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