Reducing pressure ulcers across multiple care settings using a collaborative approach.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Wound Care Management

Background:

• Pressure ulcers affect over 700,000 UK patients annually, with 180,000 new cases each year.
• The National Health Service (NHS) incurs significant daily costs exceeding £3.8 million due to pressure ulcers.
• A 2015 assessment revealed higher-than-average pressure ulcer incidence in North East and North Cumbria, necessitating intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a collaborative model aimed at reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers.
• To decrease the percentage of pressure ulcers acquired by patients under the care of various health services.
• To achieve significant cost savings and reduce patient hospital stays.

Main Methods:

• A 2-year Pressure Ulcer Collaborative was implemented, adopting the Breakthrough Series Collaborative Model.
• The initiative involved collaboration across secondary care, community services, care homes, and the ambulance service.
• Focus was placed on implementing evidence-based practices to prevent pressure ulcer development.

Main Results:

• In the first year, pressure ulcer incidence decreased by 36%.
• In the second year, a further reduction of 33% in pressure ulcers was observed.
• The collaborative resulted in an estimated cost saving of £513,000 and reduced bed days by 220-352.

Conclusions:

• The Pressure Ulcer Collaborative model proved effective in reducing pressure ulcer incidence.
• The initiative demonstrated substantial cost savings and improved patient outcomes through reduced hospital stays.
• Collaborative efforts across diverse healthcare settings are crucial for effective pressure ulcer prevention.