Reducing avoidable pressure ulcers: an online clinical ordering system

Area of Science:

• Healthcare management
• Clinical informatics
• Patient safety

Background:

• Healthcare systems face challenges from aging populations, funding constraints, and demands for improved care, alongside a zero-tolerance policy for healthcare-acquired injuries like pressure ulcers.
• Guidelines from the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommend repositioning, pressure-redistributing support surfaces, and off-loading for pressure ulcer prevention.
• Guy's and St. Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust sought an evidence-based strategy to decrease pressure ulcer incidence, aligning with the Harm Free Care initiative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical and economic evidence supporting the implementation of the eTRACE system.
• To evaluate the contribution of eTRACE to the Trust's objective of reducing avoidable pressure ulcers.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of eTRACE, an online clinical ordering system.
• Utilizing patient clinical risk assessment and Trust protocols within eTRACE for equipment selection.
• Integration of organizational and national reporting/management functionalities into the system.

Main Results:

• The article will present clinical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of eTRACE in pressure ulcer prevention.
• Economic evidence will be reviewed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the eTRACE system.
• The system's role in supporting the Trust's Harm Free Care initiative and reducing pressure ulcer incidence will be detailed.

Conclusions:

• eTRACE provides an evidence-based solution for reducing avoidable pressure ulcers.
• The system supports clinical decision-making and meets essential reporting requirements.
• The implementation of eTRACE aligns with healthcare quality improvement goals and patient safety initiatives.