New research published in WOUNDS, the most widely read, peer-reviewed journal focusing on wound care and wound research, demonstrated improved patient outcomes in the prevention of pressure ulcers for intensive care unit (ICU) patients with the use of Wellsense’s M.A.PTM, the first-ever continuous bedside pressure mapping system. The results of the study, “A Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping System for Prevention of Pressure Ulcer Development in the ICU: A Retrospective Analysis” show real-time, ongoing pressure monitoring using M.A.P successfully aided in decreasing pressure ulcer occurrence in ICU patients by helping care providers effectively detect pressure and reposition patients within the context of existing National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel standardized guidelines.
During the two-month study period, only one out of 307 (0.3 %) patients using real-time continuous bedside pressure mapping (CBPM) technology developed a pressure ulcer compared to 16 out of 320 (5%) patients in the historical control group who were placed on the same beds without the M.A.P one year prior. In a survey of the medical ICU (MICU) care providers, 90% of respondents reported that continuous bedside pressure mapping contributed to improved pressure detection and relief, 88% indicated the system assisted them with repositioning protocols, and 84% reported the pressure map provided for more efficient and effective patient repositioning.
“Patient repositioning to offload high-pressure areas is an essential component of pressure ulcer prevention for bed-bound patients,” said lead investigator Aamir Siddiqui, MD, Division Head of Plastic Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. “In most settings, the quantity and quality of offloading and repositioning are difficult to measure but real-time continuous bedside pressure mapping unblinds caregivers to be able to see instant pressure distribution data and then off-load pressure accordingly.”
The M.A.P’s pressure sensing mat is made of an intelligent textile, which constantly measures pressure from thousands of discrete points. The variations in pressure across a patient’s body are depicted on a monitor, using a color scheme to help caregivers visualize high (red) to low (blue) pressure points, which enables them to easily identify and minimize areas of high pressure.
“The instant feedback provided by the M.A.P allowed caregivers to really see for the first time whether or not a patient had been properly positioned,” said Dr. Siddiqui. “The technology provided confidence and peace of mind that the areas of concern were appropriately off-loaded. This is an exciting opportunity for caregivers to learn optimal repositioning techniques and determine the best practices for minimizing pressure.”
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates 2.5 million people in the US develop pressure ulcers per year, 60,000 of whom die from complications. There is more than a half million US hospital admissions per year where pressure ulcers are either the primary or secondary diagnosis. The treatment of pressure ulcers costs the US healthcare system approximately $11.5 billion each year. The incremental cost of extended hospitalizations due to HAPUs is up to $120,000 per ulcer. Medicare has deemed HAPUs as a ‘never event’ and will not pay for these incremental costs.
About the M.A.Pâ„
M.A.Pâ„ is the first-ever, clinically proven, continuous bedside monitoring system that detects and depicts the variations in pressure across a patient’s body, to aid in the prevention of hospital acquired pressure ulcers. Used on any existing bed, M.A.Pâ„ enables caregivers to visualize real time pressure distribution data to guide effective patient repositioning. The live, color feedback provided by M.A.Pâ„ empowers caregivers to easily identify early warning signs of risk to patient safety and has a demonstrated ability to improve upon a facility’s pressure ulcer prevention program efforts.
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