Feb 25 2013
New research presented at the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Biennial Conference demonstrates improvement in the prevention of pressure ulcers with the use of Wellsense's MAP™ System, the first-ever continuous bedside pressure mapping system.
The two poster presentations, "Dynamic Physiologic Skin Monitoring to Enhance a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program" and "Biofeedback of Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping to Optimize Effective Patient Repositioning," were presented by Dr. Ronald G. Scott, Director of Wound Care at a North Dallas Long Term Acute Care Hospital, at the NPUAP meeting in Houston, TX on February 22, 2013.
The results of the first study showed a significant reduction in pressure ulcer occurrence when using the MAP™ System over a six month period in 2012. During this period, zero hospital acquired pressure ulcers occurred, in comparison to 16 pressure ulcers in the same timeframe in 2011.
"For decades, in an effort to prevent pressure ulcers, caregivers have been repositioning patients in bed but until now they haven't had any feedback to confirm that their adjustments are effective," said Dr. Scott. "New continuous bedside pressure mapping technology now offers caregivers a visual image of where pressures exist beneath patients, taking the guesswork out of how to best redistribute pressure. By incorporating these monitors, we were able to achieve our prevention program goal of zero pressure ulcers."
The MAP System's pressure sensing mat is made of an intelligent textile, which constantly measures pressure from thousands of discrete points. The variations in pressure across a patient's body are depicted on a monitor, using a color scheme to help caregivers visualize high (red) to low (blue) pressure points, which enables them to easily identify and minimize areas of high pressure. The MAP System serves as a supportive tool for caregivers by providing live, visual feedback as they reposition patients.
In the second study, bedside caregivers were able to reposition patients to alleviate areas of high pressures more effectively when provided feedback from the MAP™ System.
"There is a huge unmet need to decrease the incidence of bed sores and reduce the human suffering and enormous cost associated with their treatment," continued Dr. Scott. "Our pressure ulcer prevention program was enhanced by the visual validation from this continuous bedside pressure mapping technology, which showed caregivers how to effectively reposition, rather than blindly turn patients to prevent bed sores."