Pressure ulcers may develop for high risk patients. Ideally they should not happen. This program is to guide you on how to establish and on-line program to prevent pressure ulcers in hospitals

1. S A M I R S A W L I , P H D .
S S A W L I @ Y A H O O . C O M
Pressure Ulcer online
Prevention Program

2. In Summary
 Pressure ulcers are mostly preventable, costly and a sign
of quality of care
 Risk assessment identifies risk factors, aids care planning
for prevention, and the allocation of equipment
 „ Preventative measures should be initiated at the
earliest possible opportunity Intrinsic and extrinsic
factors should be eliminated or minimized
 „ Pressure ulcers are staged according to the level of
tissue visible at the base of the wound
 „ All pressure ulcers should be reported by incident
report, through the head nurse, to nursing QI

3. Definition
Ulceration
 Due to occlusion of microcirculation
 Leading to localized areas of tissue ischemia
 „ Usually occurring over a bony prominence
 Pressure ulcers are preventable,
 costly and a measure of quality of care
 „ Cause pain, suffering, loss of dignity
 „ Increased mortality by 21.3%

4. Important Enough?
What to do about it
 Establish Pressure Ulcer prevention program at your
facility
 Assign responsible coordinator to
initiate, track, educate and measure the effectiveness
of the program, it is worth it.
 Establish a policy, educate staff about the policy.
 Establish an annual mandatory program to nursing
staff

5. Steps
 Gather simple and easy to follow presentation on
pressure ulcers
 Put the presentation on the intranet or portal
 Make an online quiz to be completed by all staff
 No need to schedule nurse to classes and interrupt
shifts
 Put posters in all units
 Send email to all staff

6. Can you do it yourself?
 If not contact us
 Hexpert.sharepoint.com
 ssawli@yahoo.com