Skip to main content
SAWC Fall 2023 Posters Main banner
Icon Legend
Poster Icons
Highest Scoring Poster Abstract
Highest Scoring Poster Abstract
Highest Scoring Abstract for Oral Presentation
Highest Scoring Abstract for Oral Presentation
Rapid Fire Poster Talks
Rapid Fire Poster Talks
Virtual Poster Hall Sponsor
Virtual Poster Hall Sponsor
Peoples Choice Award Nominee
Peoples Choice Award Nominee
Peoples Choice Award Winner
Peoples Choice Award Winner
Back
Rate ePoster

Clinical Research

(CR-022) The Implementation of a Comprehensive Wound Care Program Powered by A Digital Wound Platform to Decrease Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries Incidence Rate

Lisa Skutnik, PT,MA,WCC – Director, Rehabilitation and Wound Care Services, Gerald Champion; David Mannion, BA – Director Marketing Development; Lee Preiss, MBA – Senior Product Line Manager; Robert D. J. Fraser, RN, WCC – Director Clinical Success, Swift Medical
Introduction:

A regional medical center in the US adopted a holistic wound care program (WCP) that included a digital wound care solution (DWCS) to improve pressure injury care. This retrospective study compared the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) before and after implementing the comprehensive WCP. HAPI rate post-full implementation was also compared to the different phases of the program implemented at different periods.

Methods:

The complete strategy of the WCP included adopting the following:



  • A DWCS in Q4, 2021.



  • A revised PI treatment protocol in Q4, 2021.



  • Four eyes program where two registered nurses conduct a complete body assessment within 4 hours of admission in Q1, 2022.



  • Braden care plans for scores of ≤18 in Q3, 2022.



The study used the DWCS database to access and compare 6,211 anonymous PI evaluation data across different point from from Aug 2021-Jan 2023.

Results:

The study showed a significant decrease in HAPI rates after adopting the WCP (P< 0.001). The incidence rate decreased by 4.2% six months after the full implementation- (August 2022- Jan 2023). Further, a 5.6x reduction in the HAPI rate was observed between the initial three months (Aug-Oct 2022) and the last 3-months of full program implementation (Nov 2022-Jan 2023).

 

A reduction in the HAPI incidence rate was recorded, with an overall improvement following the full implementation of the WCP (August 2022- Jan 2023) of 56% compared to pre-periods (Sept-Dec 2021) and 53% compared to Nov 2021-May 2022. 

Discussion:

Incorporating a DWCS as part of WCP is pivotal to identifying at-risk patients and improving the HAPI incidence rate. Reducing HAPI can save healthcare costs on nursing, medication, dressing, laboratory tests, radiology, mattresses, surgical procedures, and office visits ranging between $10,231- $70,619 per injury.1 It has the potential to save about 4-11 days of unintended hospital stay2 and support fewer patient-initiated litigations, estimated at approximately 279,000 per injury.3

Trademarked Items:

References: Brem H, Maggi J, Nierman D, Rolnitzky L, Bell D, Rennert R, Golinko M, Yan A, Lyder C, Vladeck B. High cost of stage IV pressure ulcers. Am J Surg. 2010 Oct;200(4):473-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.12.021.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950802/

Graves N, Birrell F, Whitby M. Effect of pressure ulcers on length of hospital stay. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2005;26(3):293-7. doi: 10.1086/502542. PMID: 15796283.

Gefen A, Kolsi J, King T ,et al. Modeling the cost-benefits arising from technology-aided early detection of pressure ulcers. Wounds International.2020; 11(1):22:29