At St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany, New York, 33% of patients in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) and 8% of patients in the progressive care unit (PCU) experienced hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). The Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) team in these units focused on developing evidence-based strategies to reduce HAPIs in cardiac surgery patients.

The CSI team provided education to the CVICU, PCU, and operating room staff (nurses and technicians) on the application of sacral foam dressings on all patients before cardiac surgery to prevent HAPIs. Additionally, the team educated nurses on the 4 Eyes Assessment, in which 2 nurses assess the patient’s skin for signs of breakdown and verify placement of the sacral foam dressing to prevent HAPIs. Both nurses and patient care technicians were educated on how to document the 4 Eyes Assessment in the electronic health record.

The CSI team created a unit-based HAPI board where...

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