Improving Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury Outcomes by Overcoming Barriers to Implementing Patient Positioning Devices

Approximately 2.5 million cases of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) occur annually in the United States, with the cost of treatment averaging $11 000.¹  An extensive study of critical care patients in US hospitals indicated a HAPI prevalence rate of 5.85%.²  Further analysis showed that 33.2% of those patients developed pressure injuries on the sacrum or coccyx, followed by 14.8% on the buttocks.²  Pressure injuries impose a significant burden on the patient, including increased morbidity, mortality, and pain.³  Because most pressure injuries are preventable, their financial and quality-of-care implications for hospitals are significant. Therefore, introducing care innovations to improve patient outcomes is crucial. This project to improve the outcomes of patients with HAPIs began before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the products and procedures implemented helped achieve and sustain improved pressure injury outcomes despite the multitude of challenges posed by the crisis care environment, including...