Evidence-Based Approach to Decrease Incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) represent a significant patient safety concern and increase healthcare costs.
• HAPIs are preventable and serve as a key nurse-sensitive indicator for quality and safety benchmarking.
• Managing HAPIs is particularly challenging in intensive care units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a multidisciplinary nursing initiative to reduce HAPI incidence.
• To highlight the role of frontline education and structured programs in HAPI prevention.
• To demonstrate the successful application of quality improvement methodologies in reducing HAPIs.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative team of nurses from diverse hospital areas was formed.
• A structured educational program, incorporating a Wound Associate treatment model and Lean methodology, was implemented.
• Processes and barriers to HAPI prevention were systematically addressed.

Main Results:

• The initiative successfully heightened awareness of skin care protocols among nursing staff.
• Frontline education empowered peers with knowledge and skills for HAPI prevention.
• A significant decrease in the incidence of HAPIs was achieved within the academic medical center.

Conclusions:

• Multidisciplinary nursing collaboration and structured programs are effective in reducing HAPIs.
• Targeted education and process improvement are crucial for enhancing patient safety and reducing healthcare costs associated with HAPIs.
• This initiative demonstrates a successful model for HAPI prevention in a complex academic medical center setting.