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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4
P R E S S U R E U L C E R S
A
wearable sensor
that tracks when
hospital staff follow
turn protocols may help
healthcare workers improve
their efforts to prevent hos-
pital-acquired pressure
ulcers, a new study finds.
Using the Leaf Healthcare
Wearable Sensors, hospital
turn protocol compliance
improved from 64% to 98%,
according to the study done
by the El Camino Hospital in
Pleasanton, Calif.
The Leaf system is a
small, lightweight, wear-
able sensor that electronically monitors a patient's position and move-
ments, says the company. The sensor then collects data and sends it to
central monitoring stations or mobile devices so that healthcare workers
can check on patients' positions. It also uses alerts to remind staff to repo-
sition patients.
"Nurses and hospitals are searching for innovative ways to reduce pres-
sure ulcers — which affect more than 2.5 million U.S. patients each year —
and this presentation provides valuable insights into how that can be
accomplished," says Mark Smith, vice president of sales and marketing at
Leaf Healthcare.
— Kendal Gapinski
REPOSITIONING COMPLIANCE
Sensor Monitors Your Pressure-Ulcer Prevention Efforts
SENSOR STUDY
A new sensor
monitors patients'
repositioning,
a study finds.
