Facility dramatically reduces pressure ulcers

摘要

In 2008, the incidence of pressure ulcers in the ICU at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago ranged from 11 % to 13.6%. Today, a rnultidisciplinary task force has dispelled the myth that little can be done to prevent pressure ulcers in the ICU. "We were able to drop our rates to 1.8% in the ICU cumulatively over a six-month period, and the last four months we have seen 0% in the ICU while treating about 275 patients," reports Nancy Chaiken, ANP-C, CWOCN, RN, wound ostomy continence specialist and head of the hospital's skin breakdown prevention committee.