SESCAM achieved the reduction in the incidence of ulcers by pressure

are lesions that appear on the skin when the patient is lying or sitting for a long time

-his appearance alters seriously the quality of life and mortality among patients, that is conducive to a specific care

Ciudad Real, January 2012.- (UPP) pressure ulcers are a major challenge for his influence on the quality of life and mortality of patients, as well as the increase of hospital stays and the consumption of resources for the health system, which predictably will increase due to the ageing of the population.

Nurses are in a key position to address this problem in a comprehensive manner. For example, the General Hospital nursing management ‘ La Mancha Centre ’ Alcazar de San Juan (Ciudad Real), dependent of the Government of Castilla – La Mancha, Center has created successful a stable group of advice in ulcers by pressure.

The downtown spot UPP group is currently composed of twelve nurses, three nurses and a physical therapist assistants and aims to promote, organize and coordinate the care of patients with UPP or risk develop them, and foster aspects relating to the improvement of the quality of nursing of these usersbased on scientific evidence and promoting training and research

In particular, its members are responsible for design and implement the improvement actions of the Integral Plan of approach of UPP available hospital alcazareño, including training of nursing professionals in the main lines of prevention and treatment of UPP, and update procedures and associated registrations (evaluation)(, prevention and treatment of UPP, healing of wounds, care of the diabetic foot ulcers and sores showed).

In addition to the preparation of a newsletter on UPP – which includes the new implemented improvement actions, the latest scientific evidence and figures from the Centre — and advice to professionals, the Group also has research in prevention of UPP, through a project will be developed by its members soon.

Epidemic hidden beneath the sheets

The work of the group, with the support and commitment of the nursing Director of the Centre spot to prevent and improve the care of patients suffering from this ‘ epidemic hidden beneath the sheets ’, is bearing fruit in increasing awareness among professionals and the decreaseslow but progressive figures of incidence of the UPP.

This has allowed that prevalence in UPP in Hospital Mancha Center is below the national average in hospitals of the same characteristics, as it has been found in the third national survey of prevalence of ulcers by pressure.

Pressure ulcers, popularly known as bed sores or sores, are lesions that appear on the skin by a prolonged pressure on hard surfaces, for example, when the patient, by their State of health, has to remain lying down or sitting over a long period of time.