BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE Prevention and Management of Pressure Injuries
Introduction
The prevention and management of pressure injuries continues to be a concern in
the Canadian health-care system. In a 2003 study funded by the Canadian Association
of Wound Care (Wounds Canada), the overall prevalence of pressure ulcers across all
health-care settings was 26%, with approximately 70% of these wounds considered
preventable.1 According to published literature, clinical practice and expert opinion,
nearly all pressure ulcers can be prevented.2 Prevention, including best practices and
use of appropriate equipment, is of paramount importance and must be the focus of
care for all patients and across all care settings.
Despite the focus on prevention to date, pressure injury incidence rates have not
significantly decreased in Canada3 when compared with other countries around the
world, including the US.4,5 An integrated approach focused on prevention is required
across all areas of the health-care system to make a significant difference in incidence
rates. For optimal effectiveness, interdisciplinary teams need to be integrated to
include the person at risk of or with a pressure injury (as the first team member) along
with their families and departments such as purchasing and housekeeping.
Pressure injuries are expensive. The lowest cost for treating a deep-tissue injury or
Stage 1 or 2 wound is $2,450 per month, while an uncomplicated Stage 3 or 4 is
$3,616 per month.6 Pressure injuries complicated by osteomyelitis cost $12,648 per
month to treat.6 The equipment and interventions required to prevent pressure injuries
are less expensive than the cost of treatment.7 The number of pressure injuries in a
setting can be multiplied by the appropriate monthly cost per stage to determine the
total cost of treatment per month in a setting. Explicitly identifying this cost may help
with the advocacy for pressure injury prevention programs and equipment.
In one study the cost of treatment for individuals over 65 who were admitted to
hospital with a pressure injury was compared with individuals over 65 who acquired a
pressure injury while in the hospital.8 Costs to treat pressure injuries that were present
prior to admission ranged from $11,000 for a Category/Stage 3 pressure injury
to $18,500 for a Category/Stage 4 pressure injury.8 Hospital-acquired pressure injury…
Per scaricare il pdf digita–> WC BPR – Prevention and Management of Pressure Injuries 1532r3E final
[ Tratto da: www.woundscanada.ca ] –> Foundations of Best Practice for Skin and Wound Management | Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Injuries
