Pressure Ulcers
Approximately 19,000 people reside in Kansas nursing homes. The impact on quality of life, increased pain, and costs associated with pressure ulcers has been well documented. In Quarter 3 of 2007, the pressure ulcer rate for Kansas was 9%. At that time that national average was 12%. By the 3rd quarter of 2010, Kansas had dropped its rate to 8.1% and the nation’s average was 10.3%. Kansas currently ranks 14th in the nation in pressure ulcer rates.
Although Kansas nursing homes have been successful with decreasing the rates of pressure ulcers among nursing home residents, there are still facilities within the state with rates from 11.1% to 40%. Adherence to best practice guidelines on prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, along with a sound understanding of quality improvement methods is lacking in many nursing homes in the state. Adoption of these components, in addition to a resident-centered environment, is necessary to be able to continue to show progress towards decreasing the occurrence of pressure ulcers in long-term care.
Goal:
To reduce the number of high risk pressure ulcers in Kansas.