Nurses play key roles in project that brings
together patient safety experts hospitals, and nursing homes
Pressue ulcers, more commonly known as bedsores, are a serious problem for many Medicare recipients. It has been reported that, nationally, the incidence of new pressue ulcers among hospital patients is approximately 7% annually. A 2007 study found a national pressure ulcer rate of over 12% in many nursing homes. The Insitute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) reports, "Each year nearly one million people develop pressure ulcers resulting in costs exceeding $1.3 billion dollars, and the human suffering is inestimable."
New Jersey's rate for the occurrence of pressure ulcers exceeds the national average, with the state ranking 47th overall. In response, Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc., (HQSI), working in conjunction with 22 hospitals and 59 nursing homes, has begun a statewide educational and monitoring program aimed at reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers among Medicare patients.
In mid-October, a series of four regional conferences were held for the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Project. One was hosted by East Orange General Hospital. "East Orange General Hospital is committed to achieving high-quality and safe care outcomes for all patients." said Nelson Tuazon, MAEd, MSN, MBA, RN, CNAA, CPHQ, FACHE Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. "We were delighted to host a regional meeting for the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Project sponsored by HQSI. As an one of the Never-Events, the Pressure Ulcer Project requires inter-agency and multidisciplinary collaboration. We look forward to hearing more about the experiences of ofther hospitals so that we can learn form each other."
The agenda included discussion of strategies for achieving organizational change, quality measures being monitored during the project, and the time line for improvement.
The Pressure Ulcer Prevention Project is designed to educate healthcare providers and enoucrage the use of proven methods to prevent and treat pressure ulcers. HQSI has divided the state into four geographic clusters, linking one or more hospitals with a small group of nursing homes.
The goal is to foster communication and collaboration, resulting in improved programs to both prevent pressure ulcers and reduce treatment costs.
HQSI staff for this project include Joel Brodsky, RN; Suzanne Dalton, RN, BS, EdM; Marianne Sagarese, BSN, RN; and Dolores Viotti, RN, BC, C-NE.
East Brunswick-based (HQSI), the nonprofit quality improvement organization for New Jersey, partners with healthcare providers, organizations, communities, and consumers to make healthcare safer, more efficient, more effective, and more accessible. Our methods include assessing opportunities for improvement, sharing best practices, and designing strategies with measurable and sustainable results. Our goal is for consumers to receive high-quality, patient-centered care with the best possible outcomes. Additional information about HQSI may be obtained by calling the organization at 1-732-238-5570, or sending an E-mail to
beinreinhofer@njqio.sdps.org.
