Recording pressure ulcer risk assessment and incidence
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Recording pressure ulcer risk assessment and incidence

Anne Plaskitt Senior nurse quality improvement, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, England
Nicola Heywood Tissue viability nurse specialist, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, England
Michaela Arrowsmith Lead tissue viability nurse specialist, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, England

This article reports on the introduction of an innovative computer-based system developed to record and report pressure ulcer risk and incidence at an acute NHS trust. The system was introduced to ensure that all patients have an early pressure ulcer risk assessment, which prompts staff to initiate appropriate management if a pressure ulcer is detected, thereby preventing further patient harm. Initial findings suggest that this electronic process has helped to improve the timeliness and accuracy of data on pressure ulcer risk and incidence. In addition, it has resulted in a reduced number of reported hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.

Nursing Standard. 29, 46, 54-61. doi: 10.7748/ns.29.46.54.e10013

Correspondence

anneplaskitt@nhs.net

Peer review

All articles are subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software.

Received: 03 March 2015

Accepted: 23 June 2015

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