Pressure injury prevention

A pressure injury (also known as 'bed sores') is damage to the skin caused by constant pressure on an area of the body. They can range from reddened skin to large open wounds.

Pressure injuries can be caused by staying in one position for too long. They usually occur on bony parts of the body, such as:

• the back of the head
• ankles
• tailbone
• hips
• heels
• elbows.

Patients can develop pressure injuries while staying in hospital. These can be painful, take a long time to heal, and slow down a patient's recovery.

What you can do

• Try not to stay in one position for too long.
• Stay active while in hospital.
• Ask a caregiver to help you move or walk around.
• Check your skin regularly for signs of redness, blistering, tingling or numbness.
• Be mindful of pain in bony areas of your body.
• Report any skin concerns or pain to a caregiver.
• Eat a well balanced diet and stay hydrated.

What St John of God Health Care does

• We assess risk of pressure injury for each patient.
• We create and monitor plans to prevent pressure injuries.
• We provide ongoing caregiver training.
• We conduct regular audits.
• We monitor the rate of pressure injuries in our hospital.
• We use equipment to prevent pressure injuries from occurring.

Visit the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) and Better Health Channel websites for more information on preventing pressure injuries:

• Clinical Excellence Commission (NSW) - pressure injury prevention resources
• Better Health Channel (VIC) - preventing pressure sores resources

St John of God Geelong Hospital's pressure injuries data

About St John of God Geelong Hospital's pressure injuries data

Our most recent results for pressure injury prevention have improved. This is because of targeted activities that include:

• patient and caregiver education
• reinforcing skin care checks and skin integrity reviews
• encouraging regular re-positioning and mobilisation of our patients.