Stanford Hospital to conduct study on pressure ulcer prevention

It is known that frequent patient turning can help prevent pressure ulcers, but it has been difficult to monitor how effectively this intervention is practiced. Therefore, Stanford Hospital is embarking on a study to more appropriately coordinate and optimize patient turning efforts to bolster pressure ulcer prevention.

The study will be conducted in two intensive care units at Stanford Hospital and will help determine the most favorable patient turning parameters. All patient movement will be documented electronically by Leaf Healthcare. 

"The value of turning patients is well-known, ever since Florence Nightingale started this nursing practice over a hundred years ago," David Pickham, PhD, RN, Director of Research and Patient Care Services at Stanford, said in a press release. "This study will provide us with the clinical data that is required to more appropriately coordinate and optimize patient turning efforts in order to prevent pressure ulcers."

Read more about the study here.

Megan Combs

Megan Combs was Associate Editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long Term Living from 2013-2018.