Effectively Addressing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries With a Multidisciplinary Approach.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Wound Care Management

Background:

• Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) cause significant patient harm, prolonged hospital stays, and increased costs.
• Annual HAPI rates in the US are estimated at 2.5 million, with some institutions experiencing rates 66% higher than the national average.
• A multidisciplinary team was formed to address a concerning rise in HAPIs at the institution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a quality improvement project aimed at reducing hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
• To standardize care practices and documentation to mitigate HAPI incidence.
• To improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with pressure injuries.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team conducted a gap analysis identifying documentation and care practice inconsistencies.
• Standardized policies, wound documentation, and staff education were implemented.
• Proactive measures for pressure injury prevention were introduced across 10 service lines.

Main Results:

• HAPIs decreased by 4.2 percentage points, from 5.76% to 1.59% (P = .07, not statistically significant).
• Hospital-onset observed injuries reduced from 8 to 2 patients.
• Average length of stay decreased by 46%, and 100% compliance with 24-hour skin assessments was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The quality improvement program positively impacted the hospital's approach to pressure injury management.
• Despite a lack of statistical significance in HAPI reduction, the initiative demonstrated improvements in patient care and outcomes.
• The program's success suggests it is worthy of further replication in other healthcare settings.