Pressure injuries have plagued us as a society for hundreds of years. Despite major developments in risk assessment and management of pressure injuries these continue to be recognised in the top three causes of preventable harm globally. A review of literature indicates that pressure injuries are 95% preventable, however what about specialised groups such as oncology?
Whilst contributing to a significant imposition on health care resources (increased length of stay, infection, reduced mobility, back injuries to staff) the cost to the patient in terms of quality of life, pain and suffering and impact on the family cannot be understated.
It is now time to rethink how we can move from crisis management to preventative management for pressure injury avoidance.
The questions we need to ask are:
- How are we damaging skin?
- Is our practice based on ritualistic generational learnt habits rather than evidence based practice?
- What little things can we change to make a big difference?
Pressure injuries can occur in any healthcare setting. To achieve effective preventative care, it requires a multi-disciplinary team. More so, every healthcare member needs to ensure they understand their role in providing quality pressure injury preventative management.
This presentation will challenge health care workers to understand the priority of this nurse sensitive indicator. It will assist clinicians to identify patients at risk of pressure injuries and outline specific interventions for prevention.
Biography:
Tracy is currently employed within a major metropolitan hospital in Brisbane as Clinical Nurse Consultant to manage the central equipment service. A significant focus of her role within this department has been to bring innovation in the development of a central equipment service to ensure optimal patient outcomes through safe, equitable equipment management, education and maintenance. This service also specialises in pressure injury prevention, management of the Bariatric patient, Falls prevention, bed safety, Smart Pump Technology, skin integrity and risk management. Tracy is lead role in Queensland Bariatric Interest Group (QBIG). She has been on the development team for the Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Guidelines and is on the Review committee for the International Pressure Injury Guidelines. Tracy is a member of the Australian Pressure Injury Alliance Panel (APIAP) and the National Standards review committee.
Tracy has extensive experience in presenting innovative approaches to quality risk management topics both nationally and internationally.
A focus of her teaching is to ensure people have fun in learning.