Pressure Ulcer Prevention is Better Than Cure
This new year, we’re encouraging you to put your health and the health of your loved ones front and centre.
The NEW International guideline on pressure ulcers was issued by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) and the Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance (PPPIA).
This international cooperation aims to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, that can be used by health professionals, patient consumers and informal care givers throughout the world(1).
The list of guidelines is very broad and contains recommendations on several topics. The decision to adopt any recommendations must be made by the multidisciplinary healthcare team, in collaboration with patients and informal care givers, taking in to account available resources and the patients individual circumstances(1).
The guideline consists of five main sections, and the information in this document includes some important recommendations and good practice, within the sections that apply directly to the Frontier portfolio of solutions.
Prevention of pressure ulcers skin and tissue assessment
The clinical observation of the patient and their skin and a full risk assessment, care planning and re-assessment, are key in estimating the risk of pressure ulcers.
When patients at risk of pressure ulcers are newly admitted to the care service, a pressure ulcer risk screening should be conducted as soon as possible (i.e. at first contact with the health professional), and periodically thereafter.
Further information can be found on the EPUAP / NPIAP / PPPIA websites:
References
- European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.). EPUAP/NPIAP.PPPIA: 2019
- START Study reference Beckman et al. (2019) A multicentre prospective randomised controlled clinical trial comparing the effectiveness and cost of a static air mattress and alternating air pressure mattress to prevent pressure ulcers in nursing home residents. International Journal of Nursing Studies June, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.05.015
- Holden-Mount, S. Sieggreen, M. 2015. Medical Device-Related Pressure Ulcers
