November 4, 2009

Westerly Hospital was awarded with the “Ideas Into Action & Best Practices Award” by Quality Partners of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Department of Health. The award was presented to Hospital staff during a meeting of the Cross Setting Pressure Ulcer Collaborative Outcomes Congress held yesterday in Warwick.

 

An initiative of Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts, the Rhode Island Cross Setting Pressure Ulcer Collaborative represents the collaborative work of eleven hospitals, thirteen nursing homes and two home health agencies, all in Rhode Island. The Collaborative was established to decrease the incidence of pressure ulcer development in Rhode Island health care facilities.

 

Pressure ulcers, sometimes called bed sores or pressure sores, are skin wounds that can be painful, take a long time to heal, and cause other complications, such as skin and bone infections. There are several things that hospitals can do to prevent pressure ulcers, such as frequently changing the patient’s position, ensuring proper nutrition, and using soft padding to reduce pressure on the skin. However, some patients may get pressure ulcers even when the hospital provides good preventive care.

 

In receiving the award, the Hospital was recognized for its work in creating a multi-disciplinary team approach to pressure ulcer prevention. Departments included Nursing staff and leadership, Nutrition, Wound Care, Information Systems, Products Management, and a physician champion. The Westerly Hospital was the only Rhode Island hospital to receive the Ideas Into Action & Best Practices Award.

 

Hospital acquired pressure ulcer data among Rhode Island hospitals are publicly reported on the Rhode Island Department of Health’s “Health Care Quality Performance (HCQP) Program” Web site page. For the most recent data period reported, October-December, 2008, The Westerly Hospital reported zero pressure ulcers.