Authors: Lyder Courtney H.; Grady Jackie; Mathur Deepak; Petrillo Marcia K.; Meehan Thomas P.

Source: Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, Volume 30, Number 4, April 2004 , pp. 205-214(10)

Publisher: Joint Commission Resources

Abstract:

Background: Seventeen hospitals and the Peer Review Organization of Connecticut (Qualidigm) attempted to increase early identification of high-risk patients and utilization of pressure ulcer preventive measures.

Methods: A multihospital retrospective cohort study with medical record abstraction was used to obtain a total of 1,955 (baseline) and 891 (follow-up) patients aged 65 years and older discharged after treatment for pneumonia, cerebrovascular disease, or congestive heart failure with a length of stay five days. During a nine-month period, the hospitals conducted four plan-do-study-act improvement cycles and shared their results in conference calls and group meetings.

Results: Statistically significant increases were noted from baseline (1/1/96–12/31/96) to follow-up (10/1/97–3/31/98) in identification of high-risk patients, repositioning of bed-bound or chair-bound patients, nutritional consults in malnourished patients, and staging of acquired Stage II pressure ulcers. Daily skin assessments occurred at a high rate in both periods. There were no statistically significant changes in other processes of care, pressure ulcer incidence, or mortality.

Discussion: Performance of four pressure ulcer prevention processes of care increased concurrently with a multifaceted improvement intervention.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2004-04-01

More about this publication?

• Published monthly, The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to providing health professionals with the information they need to promote the quality and safety of health care. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety invites original manuscripts on the development, adaptation, and/or implementation of innovative thinking, strategies, and practices in improving quality and safety in health care. Case studies, program or project reports, reports of new methodologies or new applications of methodologies, research studies on the effectiveness of improvement interventions, and commentaries on issues and practices are all considered.
  
  Also known as Joint Commission Journal on Quality Improvement and Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety
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