Non-Physician Healthcare Provider Resources: Complicated Pressure Ulcers

Risk Assessment

The Waterlow Risk Assessment Score Card
A frequently used scoring system in the U.K., the Waterlow Risk Assessment Score Card provides guidance on using the Waterlow scoring system and preventative aids based on the risk level of the patient.
View the Waterlow Risk Assessment Score Card

The Braden Scale
The BradenScale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk© provided by Prevention Plusis designed to predict pressure sore risk. It measures the following aspects of the patient’s health and condition: sensory perception, moisture exposed to skin, physical activity, mobility, nutrition, friction and shear.
View the Braden Scale

Staging

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) Staging Resources
The NPUAP Newsroom provides information on coding suspected deep tissue injuries, the role of nutrition in preventing pressure ulcers and illustrations of pressure ulcer stages.
View the NPUAP Newsroom

National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP)-Pressure Ulcer Stages
In February of 2007 the NPUAP redefined the 4 pressure ulcer stages and added 2 additional stages- deep tissue injury and unstageable pressure ulcers.
View the NPUAP Updated Staging System

Yuma Regional Medical Center Daily Skin Care Flow Sheet
This tool enables nurses to detect the need for interventions for patients with a Braden Score less than 19. It includes a schedule for repositioning a patient in order to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. The Flow Sheet can be found in the Southern California Patient Safety Collaborative Toolbox in the pressure ulcer portion.
View the Yuma Medical Center Daily Skin Care Flow Sheet

Morristown Memorial Hospital Wound Competency Identifying Pressure Ulcers and Other Wounds
Created by the Morristown Memorial Hospital for nurse education about prevention and management of wounds. It provides important elements that are needed to identify pressure ulcers and their current stages. This tool also helps differentiate the pressure ulcers from other types of wounds.
View the Wound Competency

Prevention

Skin Care Facts: Pressure Ulcer Prevention
This form can be found on ihi.org provided by Iowa Health, Des Moines, IA. Included within are instructions on how to assess the patient’s risk, how to provide proper heel care, and how to apply ointments. There are also instructions on how to properly use special mattresses and the TED Hose.
View the Iowa Health Skin Care Facts

Preventing Pressure Ulcers Turn Clock Tool Description
This is a This tool can be found on ihi.org provided by the Owensboro Medical Health System, Owensboro, Kentucky. The schematic  helps remind healthcare providers when the patient should be repositioned, in order to avoid pressure ulcers.  
View the Owensboro Clock Tool

New South Wales (NSW) Australia Department of Health- Prevention of pressure ulcers - transport of a patient
The NSW Department of Health Quality and Safety site provides a reference for health care providers that are involved with transporting patients from one setting to another. The goal of this resource is to teach these health care providers how to prevent the development of pressure ulcers in the patients being transported.
View the NSW Quality and Safety Site

Prevalence  & Incidence

Prevalence & Incidence Studies
KCI provides guidance, resources, and tools that help collect data in order to conduct a Prevalence and Incidence study.
Visit KCI’s site for more information and pressure ulcer resources.
View the KCI Prevalence & Incidence Study Resources

Toolboxes

Southern California Patient Safety Collaborative Toolbox
Visit the pressure ulcer portion of the Southern California Patient Safety Collaborative Toolbox for risk assessment tools, flow sheets, handouts, and decision trees.
View the Southern California Patient Safety Collaborative Toolbox