Abby Denby1, Aletha Rowlands. 1. Martha Jefferson Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, USA. abby.denby@mjh.org
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the feasibility of implementing a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Protocol in the emergency department (ED). METHODOLOGY: Using data abstraction, a descriptive analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between ED length of stay and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers for those patients who were directly admitted to the hospital from the ED. RESULTS: During 2006, 32,664 patients sought medical attention through the ED. Seventy-five percent of the total patient population admitted was admitted from the ED. One hundred twenty-five of those patients developed hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, 99.2% of which had an ED length of stay greater than 2 hours prior to hospital admission. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest early nursing interventions are needed to prevent hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the feasibility of implementing a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Protocol in the emergency department (ED). METHODOLOGY: Using data abstraction, a descriptive analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between ED length of stay and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers for those patients who were directly admitted to the hospital from the ED. RESULTS: During 2006, 32,664 patients sought medical attention through the ED. Seventy-five percent of the total patient population admitted was admitted from the ED. One hundred twenty-five of those patients developed hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, 99.2% of which had an ED length of stay greater than 2 hours prior to hospital admission. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest early nursing interventions are needed to prevent hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.
Authors: Nick Santamaria; Marie Gerdtz; Sarah Sage; Jane McCann; Amy Freeman; Theresa Vassiliou; Stephanie De Vincentis; Ai Wei Ng; Elizabeth Manias; Wei Liu; Jonathan Knott Journal: Int Wound J Date: 2013-05-27 Impact factor: 3.315