BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015; u205599.w3015 doi: 10.1136/bmjquality.u205599.w3015 Reducing hospital acquired pressure ulcers in intensive care

Pressure ulcers are a definite problem in our health care system and are growing in numbers. Unfortunately, it is usually the most weak and vulnerable of our culture that faces these complications, causing the patient and their families discomfort, anguish, and economic hardship due to their expensive treatment. Data collected by the tissue viability department showed high incidence of hospital acquire pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit in March 2013. An action plan was initiated and implemented by the tissue viability team, senior nursing management, pressure ulcer prevention (PUP) team and respiratory therapists (RT’s) within the ICU. Our objective was to reduce hospital acquired pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit using the plan, do, check, act quality improvement process. Problem Monthly hospital acquired pressure ulcer incidence data were collected and recorded by the tissue viability department commencing in January 2013. These numbers included hospital and home acquired pressure ulcers. The incidence rate fluctuated from a month to month basis and problem areas were identified and noted. The month of March 2013 was noted to be very high, with