Pressure Injuries and Patient Safety: Thermal Scanners Help HHC Earn “A” Safety Ratings

Check out the full story here: Hartford Healthcare Earns “A” Safety Ratings

Prevention is core to patient safety. And a reduction in pressure injuries helped all seven Hartford HealthCare hospitals earn “A” grades from The Leapfrog Group, the nation’s leading independent watchdog for quality and safety. Very few health systems in the nation have ever achieved straight As.

The initiative began after a rise in pressure injuries prompted an investigation into the root cause. It revealed that many patients were arriving at the hospital at-risk for pressure injury development. To address this issue, Hartford Healthcare implemented thermal scanning technology to identify patients at high risk for developing pressure injuries so interventions could be implemented immediately. This proactive approach resulted in a significant decrease in pressure injuries and financial savings.

The move sparked more success and an expansion of the work to all Hartford Healthcare ICUs in June 2023. Thermal scanning of patient heels and buttocks – the areas most prone to pressure – is now part of the ICU admission process.

Pressure injury reduction also helped all seven Hartford HealthCare hospitals earn “A” grades from The Leapfrog Group, the nation’s leading independent watchdog for quality and safety. Very few health systems in the nation have ever achieved straight As.

The Leapfrog Group noted that HHC’s efforts to reduce the instance included:

• Thermal scanning technology
• Standard protocols directing teams to assess skin condition at admission and periodically during hospital stays.
• Creation of a nursing council to teach clinical teams how to avoid these injuries and help patients who develop them.

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