CMS to Put Pressure on Providers for Decubitus Ulcer Prevention

According to Sage, in a recent nursing opinion poll 84 percent of the 191 wound ostomy continence nurses who responded said nurses and technicians did not fully comply with incontinence skin care protocols. The poll was conducted in June at the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Society’s annual meeting.³

“Incontinence skin care is critical to preventing skin breakdown, which increases the risk for pressure ulcers, a preventable and costly condition,” says clinical nurse specialist Kathleen Vollman, MSN, RN. “Pressure ulcers increase patient’s length of stay in the hospital and can increase morbidity and mortality.”³

Nurses cited several reasons why their staff is not fully compliant with hospital protocol:³