Timko-Progar M, Drain J, Stovall-Patton K, et al.
Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy an.... Date of publication 2024 Mar 1;volume 51(2):101-106.
1. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2024 Mar-Apr 01;51(2):101-106. doi:
10.1097/WON.0000000000001062.
Implementation of an Evidence-Based, Content-Validated, Standardized Support
Surface Algorithm Tool in Home Health Care: A Quality Improvement Project.
Timko-Progar M(1)(2)(3), Drain J(1)(2)(3), Stovall-Patton K(1)(2)(3).
Author information:
(1)Monica Timko-Progar, BSN, RN, ET, CWS®, FACCWS, Amedisys Home Health and
Hospice Care, Washington, Pennsylvania.
(2)Jerri Drain, MBA, BSN, RN, CWON, Amedisys Home Health and Hospice Care,
Bunch, Oklahoma.
(3)Kimberly Stovall-Patton, DNP, MSN, RN, COS-C, CWON, Amedisys Home Health and
Hospice Care, Cedar Park, Texas.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to provide a
standardized, repeatable, and easy-to-use process for selecting a support
surface for prevention or treatment of pressure injuries (PIs).
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society
Support Surface Algorithm was chosen to guide clinicians in selection of an
appropriate support surface. These clinicians provide services to approximately
465,000 patients across the nation annually.
APPROACH: This quality improvement project aimed to establish clinician
knowledge and comfort levels when recommending a support surface and providing a
standardized way to identify the appropriate support surface once a patient had
been identified as at risk. The support surface algorithm was incorporated into
our agency's electronic medical record (EMR); we chose this interactive
algorithm to facilitate support surface selection among clinicians with no
specialized expertise in PI treatment or prevention.
OUTCOMES: Clinicians reported an increase in knowledge and comfort levels in the
ability to select an appropriate support surface following implementation of the
clinical decision support tool. Benchmarking data illustrated a decrease in the
year over year aggregate (September 2018 to September 2021) trending for the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality outcome measures surrounding
potentially avoidable events related to PIs.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Implementing the support surface algorithm assisted
clinicians with support surface selection, elevated and standardized clinician
practice, and reduced potentially avoidable events. As a result of this project,
the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society Support Surface Algorithm Tool
has been fully integrated into our EMR and is a standardized part of our
clinical assessment.
Copyright © 2024 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.
DOI: 10.1097/WON.0000000000001062
PMID: 38527317 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
