demographics, type of surgery and
surgical position. This lets you
treat only the high- or moderate-
risk patients with additional pre-
ventative measures such as gel
padding, multilayered dressings
and specialty mattresses. There
isn't a universal strategy for pressure injury prevention because each
patient and each procedure is unique, but a thorough risk assessment
is the necessary first step to keeping skin intact.
OSM
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On the Web:
Download an electronic
version of the Munro Pressure
Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale
that calculates risk scores at
outpatientsurgery.net/forms.
Ms. Munro (munroconsulting@yahoo.com) is the Magnet and professional
practice manager at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica,
Calif. She also owns and operates Munro Consulting.
When nurses at Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia, Pa.,
noticed an increase in pressure injury rates, they reached for the
Munro Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale. It worked. The
tool helped lower pressure injury rates from 3.05% to 1.8%.
"We used to perform a skin assessment on all patients, but
we didn't have a way to determine risk factors through all phas-
es of surgery," says Trish Brown, BSN, RN, a clinical nurse at
Einstein.
Einstein's nurses now use the Munro Scale for all patients
undergoing procedures that are anticipated to last 2 hours or
longer. Patients found to be at moderate- or high-risk of pres-
sure injury in the pre-operative phase receive extra precau-
tions in the OR to maintain skin integrity.
Philly Hospital Lowers Pressure Injury Rate
SUCCESS STORY
