Informed Application of the Standards on Support Surface Performance for Clinically Meaningful Use

Cynthia Sylvia¹, Paula Gruccio, Rosalyn Jordan+2

• ¹Cynthia Sylvia, DNurs, MSc, MA, RN, CWCN, is Managing Member of Cynthia Sylvia LLC, Charles Town, West Virginia. Paula Gruccio, MSN, RN, CWCN, is an Independent Wound Care Consultant. Rosalyn Jordan, MSc, BSN, RN, CWCN, WCC, is an Independent Clinical Consultant, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Susan Smith Morello, BSN, RN, CWOCN, is an Independent Clinical Consultant, Omaha, Nebraska. Kristen Thurman, PT, CWS, is Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Wellsense, Birmingham, Michigan. All of the authors are members of the Support Surface Standards Initiative (S3I); Ms Jordan is the organization's Secretary, and Ms Thurman is a cochair. Acknowledgments: The S3I was founded by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) in 2001. On November 7, 2019, the NPUAP announced a name change to the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP). This article reflects the name change only as it applies historically, because the work was completed prior to the name change. The NPIAP currently provides oversight and support for S3I through the NPIAP Research Committee. As the parent organization for S3I, NPUAP board members reviewed this article. The authors thank Dr Janet Cuddigan for her editing assistance. The article supports the mission of the NPIAP by translating the work of S3I to more effectively support clinical decisions regarding support surface selection and use. The NPIAP review does not constitute an official NPIAP position or policy. The authors disclose that Ms Gruccio was a full-time employee of Stryker Medical during study completion. Further, Ms Thurman is the Vice President of Clinical Affairs for Wellsense, a manufacturer of continuous bedside pressure mapping. The authors have disclosed no other financial relationships related to this article. Submitted September 10, 2019; accepted in revised form December 31, 2019.