October 3, 2019
Bedsores (also known as pressure ulcers) are injuries to the skin, primarily caused by prolonged pressure. People who are immobile for long periods of time are highly susceptible to bedsores and are the most reported patient harm in the NHS causing acute pain and even leading to fatal complications in severe cases.1
So, what can be done to help prevent bedsores? Martin Burns, CEO, BBI LLC said:
“A growing number of hospitals are updating their pressure ulcer care protocols which is great news. When BBI collaborates with them to implement our SEM Scanner – a hand-held device which objectively alerts clinicians to specific areas of the body at increased risk for developing bedsores2 – data from the SEM Scanner can facilitate terrific reductions (92% average) in pressure ulcer incidence.3”
A quick scan of the skin with the SEM Scanner has been found to identify increased risk of bedsores days before they become visible on the skin surface2; bedsores can be largely prevented if the right interventions are applied early enough to the right parts of the body.
So, what can you do to help prevent pressure ulcers? Martin Burns, CEO, BBI LLC wants to encourage, “people to talk more about these wounds. Better yet, we want to achieve a situation where bedsores are no longer discussed as early identification and prevention will have made them the ‘never event’ they ought to be.”
1. Deaths from selected causes, ONS (2015). Available at www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/006466deathsfromselectedcausesbyplaceofdeathenglandandwales2014to2015. Accessed February 2018. 2. Okonkwo H. et al. (2018). Evaluation of a novel device using capacitance of the detection of early pressure ulcers (PU), a multi-site longitudinal study. Accepted and presented at NPUAP 2018 3. Hancock K. et. al (2019). Reducing Pressure Ulcer (PU) Incidence Through the Introduction of Technology. Abstract submitted and presented at EPUAP, France
