Reducing nosocomial pressure ulcers in an acute care facility

In 1996, a nursing committee at an acute care facility organized the first pressure ulcer point prevalence survey for that hospital. In 1996, hospital -acquired pressure ulcers were 90 percent of the predicted prevalence rate; in 1997, the rate dropped to 59 percent of the predicted prevalence and in 1998, to 53 percent of the predicted prevalence. The severity index decrea sed markedly from 291 (1996) to 98 (1997) then to 62 (1998). These improvem ents are attributed to the purposeful addition of multidimensional interven tions, including best practices and research-based protocols, to prevent an d treat nosocomial pressure ulcers.