Physician 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

Prevention

ACP Online-Pier (Physicians’ Information and Education Resource)- Cellulitis and Soft Tissue Infections
The goal of the ACP Online-Pier Cellulitis and Soft Tissue Infections site is to provide information to aide physicians in providing appropriate care to patients with wounds to prevent serious soft tissue infections. Visit the site for guidance on how to care for patients with a wound (ex. Pressure ulcer) to prevent a serious skin infection.
View the ACP Online-Pier

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

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

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