Hospital team eliminates pressure injuries

With the support of nursing administrators, including paid planning time, nurses at Temple University Hospital combined forces to reduce the incidence of stage 3 and stage 4 pressure injuries to zero. Driven by compassion for their patients, team members employed five strategies to eliminate this serious reportable event. Key to their success was building a dermal defense team, which spanned units throughout the hospital and incorporated a variety of disciplines, including physical and respiratory therapy. Hospital-acquired stage 3 and stage 4 pressure injuries cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $9.1–$11.6 billion annually. (HealthLeaders Media story, 10/18/19)