There is a wide variety of equipment and different technologies available today, which can be employed as part of pressure ulcer prevention strategies. Suzanne Callander looks at some of the devices available and how and why they are being used.
Reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers is an important element to improve patient outcomes and provide a better patient experience. It can also reduce costs associated with treatment. The cost of care for patients who get a pressure ulcer in hospital is estimated to be an additional £4,000 per ulcer on each patient’s care bill
It is estimated that between 80% and 95% of pressure ulcers are avoidable, so employing the right technology, as one element of an effective pressure ulcer reduction programme, could enable hospitals to dramatically reduce their care bills.
All patients are potentially at risk of developing a pressure ulcer. However, they are more likely to occur in people who are seriously ill, have a neurological condition, impaired mobility, impaired nutrition, poor posture, or a deformity. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the use of equipment such as seating or beds which are not specifically designed to provide pressure relief, can cause pressure ulcers.
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