Design and development of the pressure ulcer nursing information system for clinical risk management

Since 2002, hospitals have to report to Nursing Service Department, Hospital Authority Head Office on the pressure ulcer trends for risk management in Hong Kong. In line with the strategy, hospitals have designed their own patient observation records and reporting forms for monthly analysis and reporting of in-patient hospital acquired pressure ulcers. The incidence rates of individual hospital and its specialties are then calculated manually or using electronic spread sheets. However, the diversity in data definition and vocabulary use generates difficulties in communication among professionals and hospital managers. The development of the system would help to standardize the requirements and to reduce the time required for generating trends and ulcer information. The system also lays the foundation for future systems integration with the changing information system infrastructure.