A “Dermal Defense Team” at Temple University Hospital has been credited with enabling the provider to eliminate all Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure injuries acquired after admission.
Risk assessment, education and other protocols helped the team lower the level to zero after three quarters in 2018, which led to a major national industry award.
Five of the strategies the Dermal Defense Team has pursued include:
- Getting administration’s support, so that team members can attend meetings, for example, without having to worry about covering a normal shift as well.
- Drive change with compassion, which means treating the whole patient, not just pressure-injury prone areas.
- Make it a true team effort. Include all shifts and departments — including therapy and nursing assistants — on the team.
- Make staff education a priority. Team members disseminate each meeting’s educational lesson to their respective teams’ members.
- Remain highly visible. In Temple’s case, Dermal Defense Team members wear a bright yellow team T-shirt that says “To Prevent, Protect and Save” during data collection rounds.