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Abstract
This poster outlines key implementations taken at Joseph Weld Hospice to reduce Hospice acquired pressure ulcers. Key areas for improvement were highlighted and improvements were made in assessment skills, documentation, education, Nurse/Doctor/Patient communication, reporting and hospice equipment.
Nursing assessment improvements were made through education including power point presentations: classification, risk factors and prevention. A pocket size pressure ulcer classification tool was designed for staff to have as an easy reference at the patient‘s bedside.
Documentation improvements included a redesign of the assessment windows on our electronic patient records to prompt accurate documentation.
Communication improvements in highlighting patients at high risk through a more detailed handover ensuring reports included any patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers.
Equipment was re-evaluated with patients need being assessed and utilised for our high risk patients and if in use air mattresses were sourced for hire to ensure pressure ulcer prevention. In May 2017 the hospice held a ‘Comfort Appeal’ to enable the hospice to fund new air mattresses. This exceeded our expectations raising funds within 2 months to buy 12 mattresses.
Results Year one, April 2014/2015 22 Patients developed pressure ulcers with 10 Pressure Ulcers reported as AVOIDABLE.
Year Two, April 2015/2016 23 Patients developed pressure ulcers but there was a huge reduction in AVOIDABLE pressure ulcers with only 2 reported.
Year Three, April 2016/2017 15 patients developed pressure ulcers but only 2 AVOIDABLE pressure ulcer reported.
Conclusion In making these key improvements there have been a significant reduction in hospice acquired pressure ulcers and remarkably the reduction in AVOIDABLE pressure Ulcers. The future hope for the hospice is to continue our best practice in minimising acquired pressure ulcers and abolish AVOIDABLE pressure ulcers.