Implementing an "always practice" to redefine skin care management

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Nosocomial pressure ulcer rates exceeded national benchmarks, indicating a significant patient safety concern.
• A multidisciplinary quality improvement team was established to address the elevated rates of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of a new skin "always practice" initiative.
• To evaluate the outcomes of the skin "always practice" initiative in reducing pressure ulcer rates.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a standardized skin care protocol across the continuum of care.
• Formation of a dedicated quality improvement team to oversee the initiative.

Main Results:

• The study details the outcomes following the implementation of the new initiative.
• Analysis of pressure ulcer rates before and after the intervention is discussed.

Conclusions:

• The skin "always practice" initiative demonstrated an impact on hospital-acquired pressure ulcer rates.
• Continuous quality improvement efforts are crucial for enhancing patient safety and outcomes.