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Clinical IT in Aged Care Product Trial - Trial of a System for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers

The integrated pressure ulcer risk assessment, management and evaluation system (PRIME) is being trialled in a number of aged care homes across several states.

Why the need for a trial?
How the technology is being applied?
Potential benefits
Project evaluation
Consortium members
Amount funded
Outcomes

Presentation of preliminary results by Associate Professor Nick Santamaria 21 July 2005 (PDF 1149 KB)

If you are having problems downloading this PDF file please send an email to: acc@health.gov.au for a copy to be sent to you.

Why the need for a trial?

The incidence of pressure ulcers in residents of Australian aged care facilities has been reported to range from 13% to 37% in any one year. This incidence is unacceptably high and has been variously attributed to inadequate risk assessment, monitoring, management and evaluation by staff in aged care homes. The clinical, financial and personal cost of pressure ulcers is very high and results in significant deterioration in the quality of life of aged care residents, high cost to aged care facilities and high potential for morbidity and mortality.

How the technology is being applied?

This trial involves the implementation and evaluation of an integrated pressure ulcer risk assessment, management and evaluation system (PRIME) in 24 aged care homes (approximately 2,000 residents) located in SA, NSW, VIC and WA. One of the components of the system uses digital images of a wound to precisely measure and record essential characteristics and to track a wound’s progress over time. Clinicians are able to transmit images and files to specialist wound consultants for remote consultation. Other components of the trial focus on educating staff, providing them with risk assessment, management and documentation systems and evaluating the effectiveness of their approaches to pressure ulcer care. The trial constitutes a major Australian study with the potential to provide important evidence of national and international significance into the integrated prevention and management of pressure ulcers using clinical IT interventions.

Potential benefits

Quality of Care

• Reduced prevalence, incidence and duration of pressure ulcers
• Timely access to specialist wound management advice without leaving the home
• Improved management of ulcers through increased use of best practice evidence and clinical guidelines
• Reduced morbidity and mortality resulting from pressure ulcers

Other

• Cost reductions through increased surveillance and early intervention
• Increased staff knowledge and experience in prevention and management of pressure ulcers

Trial evaluation

The trial includes monitoring of residents with and without pressure ulcers and detailed independent evaluation including benchmarking of data across all participating homes and against statewide and national data.

Consortium members

The Alfred Hospital, Bayside Health and University of Melbourne, Medseed Pty Ltd (Melbourne), Silver Chain Nursing Association Western Australia and Curtin University (WA),
Wound Care Consultant (WA), Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health (WA),
School of Nursing – University of South Australia, The Hall and Prior Residential Health and Aged Care Organisation, The Hardi Group of Aged Care Facilities (NSW), Southport Community Residential Home (Albert Park, VIC) and Cumberland View Nursing Home (Wheelers Hill, VIC).

Amount funded

$275,000 (including GST)

Outcomes

The outcomes of the product trial are available for download.
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