East Coast Community Healthcare - Prevention and management of skin tears in residential homes
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ค. 2018
- The Tissue Viability team of East Coast Community Healthcare provides tissue viability advice and support for the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, skin tear, and education across Norfolk and Waveney. The team identified unwarranted variation with a high level of requests for same day visits for residents in care homes with reported skin tears; leading to increased demand on the district nursing service. Additionally it was often discovered that a skin tear had not occurred and there was a frequent use of inappropriate dressings or inappropriate referral to hospital. The district nursing team discussed these issues with the Tissue Viability team, and agreed a need to improve the recognition and prevention of skin tear in relevant care homes as a catalyst for the change of practice.
Evidence and research on skin tears was reviewed and a training package and a pathway for their care was developed; ensuring safety was central and a clear referral process to other services when necessary. Three care homes were identified to pilot the skin tear pathway for a 3 month period; including a review of the pathway and training package.
The care of 26 residents was audited and the outcomes identified successful application of the correct wound care dressings, completed healing rates, and a decrease in the number of same day visits requested inappropriately. The education package and treatment pathway is now being rolled out to other care homes and district nursing teams in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, including Health Care Assistants and Assistant Practitioners who provide care to patients at home. There has also been a request from a neighbouring Clinical Commissioning Group for a similar programme.
Visit www.england.nhs... to find out more about Leading Change, Adding Value and access a wealth of resources available to support nursing, midwifery and care staff in making the changes necessary to improve the outcomes and experiences for those they care for.
