References
The benefits of using a first generation SEM scanner versus an equipment selection pathway in preventing HAPUs
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes in pressure ulcer prevention using the SEM scanner, but none have compared it with other methods. In one of Scotland's health boards, ‘hot spot’ wards had been unable to reduce the number of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) after several years of focused improvement work. In addition, other wards showed high use of dynamic therapy systems with associated costs. This review compares the use of a first generation SEM scanner versus a mattress and equipment selection pathway over a 6-week period. The findings show that the SEM scanner wards had zero HAPU while the equipment pathway wards developed a total of 4 HAPU. The two SEM scanner wards showed a 11% and 33% reduction in dynamic therapy use, while the pathway wards showed an average 40% increase. Consideration should be given to using SEM scanners to support staff decision-making to reduce HAPU development and dynamic therapy usage.
Supporting the reduction of healthcare-acquired pressure ulcers (PU), also known as pressure injuries (PI), is an ongoing process due to the increasing number of patients seen by healthcare services and deemed to be ‘at risk’ of developing a PU/PI. Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) are a subset of all PU/PI seen in practice: this article uses the term pressure ulcers (PU) throughout to cover both descriptors.
National guidelines and standards for the prevention and management of PUs recommend assessing a patient's skin and risk level on admission to a care setting, to reduce the risk of harm from PUs (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2014; Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), 2020a). The SSKIN care bundle (HIS, 2020b) is a tool designed to help identify risk factors linked to the development or the deterioration of PUs (Table 1). It can support care planning following assessment of at-risk patients and has been adapted in different parts of the world to include prompts for assessment, giving information to patients and supporting self-management, all of which are important aspects of prevention.
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