Outpatient Surgery Magazine - Subscribers

Thumbs Up on Safety Scalpels - Outpatient Surgery Magazine - May 2019

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/1119265

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 43 of 112

4 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 1 9 T he only hospital-acquired condition that increased in vol- ume between 2014 and 2017? Pressure injuries, which rose by 6%. By point of comparison, surgical site infec- tion rates were actually neutral during that period. I've been tracking pressure injuries over 3 decades, and I fear the problem is even worse than those statistics suggest. True, it's difficult to determine how many pressure injuries occur perioperatively because they usually don't present for hours or days after surgery. Plus, your staff is likely unaware that there's been an injury — it's not something they can always ID on the spot. But even though they can't see them, your team plays a key role in pressure injury prevention. Can We Predict and Prevent Pressure Injuries? Match redistribution and relief devices with the level of susceptibility. • UNDER PRESSURE Pressure injuries are, distressingly, on the rise. Key to preventing them is predicting which patients are most likely to develop one. Pamela Bevelhymer, RN, BSN, CNOR Susan M. Scott, MSN, RN, WOC Nurse | Memphis, Tenn.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Outpatient Surgery Magazine - Subscribers - Thumbs Up on Safety Scalpels - Outpatient Surgery Magazine - May 2019