Home drastically reduces occurrence of pressure ulcers in one year: report
Education, prevention programs cited as factors leading to success
Monday June 29, 2009 -- Deron Hamel
Staff members at Wellesley Care Centre have reduced the incidence of pressure ulcers affecting residents over a 13-month period, according to the annual report published by the Ontario Health Quality Council (OHQC).

The report cites education and prevention programs at the centre’s two sites — Wellesley Central and Rekai Centre — as the major factors leading to the home reducing the rate of pressure ulcers from 15.2 per cent in September 2007 to .02 per cent in October 2008.

These were two of 20 Ontario long-term care homes to join the Pressure Ulcer Awareness Program, a pilot project created by the Canadian Association of Wound Care.

By taking a proactive approach to avoid minor skin irritation — which can lead to serious skin breakdown — staff members working as part of the pressure-ulcer prevention team developed through the pilot project began training their colleagues on best practices in skin health, including education on repositioning and information on the latest innovative equipment.

The pressure-ulcer team, which is made up of a dietician, physiotherapist, activity manager and a nurse specializing in skin care, holds regular meetings to discuss progress residents affected by pressure ulcers are making, as well as working to discover the sources of skin irritation for individuals.

“When the first signs of an ulcer appear, team members determine the cause,” the report explains. “If it’s because of poor nutrition or immobility, it’s possible to reverse a Stage 1 (ulcer) in a week by introducing protein and vitamins, or a rigorous turning schedule.”

Meanwhile, Wellesley Care Centre is looking at ways to work with St. Michael’s Hospital to develop a system where caregivers at the two centres can interact to foster best practices in skin care.

Because many residents who move into long-term care do so after lengthy hospital stays, the pressure-ulcer awareness team at Wellesley Care Centre wants to work with hospitals as a proactive skin-care measure.

The OHQC is an agency funded by the province through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Its mission is to engage the public matters of health care and health-care delivery.

For more information on the report, click here.

What successful programs are being utilized at your long-term care home to help reduce the rate of pressure ulcers? If you have a story you would like to share with the Morning Report, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

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