How Our ICU Decreased the Rate of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers

Abstract

We describe 7 strategies our intensive care unit implemented to decrease the rate of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. These strategies include the following: (1) restructured risk assessment and documentation, (2) translated numeric data into graphs for ease of understanding by staff, (3) increased staff awareness, (4) implemented "turn rounds," (5) increased prevalence assessments and redesigned structure of the skin team, (6) used evidence-based practice as a basis for care, and (7) created an Access database to track weekly prevalence.