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Provizio SEM Scanner supports clinicians to identify specific anatomical areas at increased risk of pressure injury/ulcer (PI/U) development on admission and 5 days* earlier than visual skin assessment1 regardless of skin tone.2 This allows targeted interventions to support reductions of PI/U incidence across all healthcare settings.
The inflammatory response to deformation is part of the damage cascade. Damage occurs at the cellular level before skin redness is visible. Sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) is one of the earliest signs of cell death. SEM is an established biomarker3 that the device identifies and reports as a SEM delta (∆) value.
A SEM delta (∆) value of ≥ 0.6 indicates increased risk of developing broken skin PI/Us. Provizio SEM Scanner differentiates between healthy and inflamed tissue providing an objective and anatomically specific measure of pressure injury/ulcer risk.4
1.Okonkwo H. et al. (2020). A blinded clinical study using a subepidermal moisture biocapacitance measurement device for early detection of pressure injuries. Wound Repair and Reg 2020;1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.12790 2. Bates-Jensen, B. M., Mccreath, H. E. & Pongquan, V. (2009). Subepidermal moisture is associated with early pressure ulcer damage in nursing home residents with dark skin tones: pilot findings. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs, 36, 277-84. 3. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: International Clinical Practice Guideline. (2019) (EPUAP, NPIAP, PPPIA) 4. Gershon, S. & Okonkwo, H. 2021. Evaluating The Sensitivity, Specificity And Clinical Utility Of Algorithms Of Spatial Variation In Sub-epidermal Moisture (SEM) For The Diagnosis Of Deep And Early-stage Pressure-induced Tissue Damage. J Wound Care, 30, 41-53. *Median
Scan every at-risk patient upon admission, throughout their stay and upon discharge on their heels and sacrum and record the SEM (∆) delta readings.
Patients should be scanned at least once a day, or according to your individual healthcare facilities protocols. Locations with higher acuity patients such as ICU may require more frequent assessment due to the potentially rapidly changing health status.
If a SEM delta (∆) value is ≥0.6 this indicates increased risk of developing a deep or early stage PI/U. Preventive interventions should be implemented for the specific anatomy identified to be at increased risk according to the facility protocol to prevent further damage occurring and assist in reversing the current cellular damage.
If a SEM delta (∆) value is <0.6, this suggests the anatomy is at lower risk of pressure induced injuries/ulcers. The anatomical area should continue to be monitored along with any changes in the patient that may warrant further observation.
Scanning regularly and documenting the results allows tracking and management of patients heels and sacrum PI/U risk during their period of care, whether as an inpatient, in the community or at home. It enables the healthcare practitioner team to monitor the trend of the SEM values based on the preventive interventions implemented.
Patient SEM delta (∆) readings can either be manually documented on patient notes or charts or can be digitally documented using the Provizio SEM Scanner. When the device is put into the Charging Hub it will automatically transfer the patient data to the Gateway Dashboard for monitoring and reporting.
The Gateway Dashboard enables healthcare practitioners to view patient SEM delta (Δ) readings by day, week, month or year, as well. As well as ward and facility level data. The data can also be exported to provide further reporting.
The Gateway Dashboard can be integrated with all major EMR (Electronic Medical Record) systems.
Further information is available on the Gateway Dashboard page.
Provizio SEM Scanner identifies damage occurring at the cellular level before skin redness is visible1. This allows healthcare practitioners to implement anatomically specific PI/U prevention earlier and the targeted interventions are designed to help prevent the PI/U from progressing.
PI/U prevention via implementing Provizio SEM Scanner results in:
4. Padula, W. V., et al. (2020). The cost-effectiveness of sub-epidermal moisture scanning to assess pressure injury risk in U.S. health systems. Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 25, 147-155. 5. Gefen N, A., et al. (2020). Modelling the cost-benefits arising from technology-aided early detection of pressure ulcers. Wounds International, 11.
Patients with dark skin tone:
Skin redness is currently the standard of care to visually diagnose a PI/U, this is particularly challenging in patients with dark skin tones. Provizio SEM Scanner supports healthcare practitioners to reduce health inequities due to its skin tone agnostic mode of action. 6. Redelings, M. D. et al. (2005). “Pressure ulcers: more lethal than we thought?.” Advances in Skin & Wound Care vol. 18,7 (2005): 367-72. 7. Baumgarten, M. et al. (2004). “Black/White differences in pressure ulcer incidence in nursing home residents.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society vol. 52,8 (2004): 1293-8. 8. Gunowa, N. et al. (2018). “Pressure Injuries in People with Dark Skin Tones: A Literature Review.” Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol. 27, (2018), pp. 3266-75.
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