A critical challenge facing healthcare providers today is the care and treatment of pressure ulcers. Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc., (HQSI) is currently working with more than 68 nursing homes across New Jersey as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) Ninth Scope of Work (9th SOW) Pressure Ulcer Prevention Project for the Medicare program. The project originally included hospitals, but CMS concluded that the goals for this aspect have already been attained. Many hospitals continue to participate, however, on a voluntary basis. New Jersey healthcare providers’ heightened awareness of the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers is contributing to a safer environment for their patients and residents.

HQSI is also currently working with 20 nursing homes as part of CMS’ 9th SOW Physical Restraint Reduction Project for the Medicare program.

The goals of these projects are to identify opportunities for improvement and implement evidence-based practices in both pressure ulcer prevention and physical restraint reduction/elimination.