pressure injuries

Pressure injuries occur when items push against the skin for prolonged periods and damage the skin and tissue underneath
These can progress to open wounds and lead to infection, scarring, and prolonged hospitalization

Patients who are very sick, and those who are not moving much
Patients who are not well nourished
Patients who have objects such as casts, braces, face masks, or even oxygen sensors which can create pressure on the skin

Routine checking of skin by a dedicated group of nurses, especially around medical devices
Rotating oxygen probes twice daily
Using moisture barrier creams with diaper changes
Making sure we use the right bed for each patient
Assessing patients for those who are at high risk for development of pressure injuries

We measure pressure injuries at various stages, depending on how much tissue damage has occurred
We want to do everything we can to prevent pressure injuries, but when they do begin to occur detect them at their earliest stages before there is skin breakdown.
We calculate our rate as pressure injuries (stage 3 and higher) per 1000 patient days