Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Long-term Care

Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Long-term Care: An Interdisciplinary Team Approach Name Institution of Affiliation Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Long-term Care: An Interdisciplinary Team Approach Pressure ulcers have continued to be a challenge to clinicians and healthcare facilities on a daily basis. Pressure injuries often occur due to the decrease or complete obstruction of blood flow to the underlying soft tissue over a bony prominence (National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, 2016). Pressure injury can present as intact skin or broken skin. The failure of preventing the presence of a pressure injury was viewed as a quality indicator. The existence of pressure injuries can lead to a decline in the patient's quality of life and increase the length of stay at healthcare facilities. The care of pressure injuries ultimately leads to an increase in the number of resources allocated (Are We Ready for This Change?, 2014). Identifying a Problem Despite pressure ulcers being highly preventable, the prevalence of pressure ulcer rates continues to be an issue today. The most common population this occurs in are non-ambulatory patients primarily restricted to the bed for most of the time. More than one million individuals have been estimated to be affected yearly in acute and long-term care settings by pressure injuries and rates have been predicted to increase (Lyder, 2011). Pressure ulcer prevention in the long-term acute care (LTAC) setting has been limited. The most up to date literature provided data as it pertained to pressure injuries in many patient care settings; the effect of pressure injury prevention programs in the LTAC setting was sparse. The prevention of pressure injuries is essential to protect patients from a diminished quality of life and increased healthcare cost. Prolonged healing and increased morbidity rates caused by pressure ulcers have led to more advanced care, additional resources, and lengthy stays. The development of a formal pressure in...