Automation of Pressure Ulcer Survey Prevalence Process

Purpose:
Automate the processes of collecting and reporting pressure ulcer prevalence survey data. Streamline and standardize the dataflow. Eliminate redundant data collection. Reduce cost and time; extract and utilize the data in a timely manner and improve user satisfaction

Significance:
This major comprehensive cancer center participates in benchmarking with NDNQI,the only national database of nursing sensitive quality indicators that contains PU data collected at the nursing unit level. Data are used for quality-improvement purposes and to determine annual national benchmarks

Strategy and Implementation:
To collect prevalence data, a team, which consisted of two wound care specialized nurses and two registered nurses from each unit, conducted pressure ulcer prevalence surveys each month using a paper tool. Two members of our Nursing Quality department transcribed the data into another database and these results were then entered into NDNQI's database. Prior to our successful technological changes, this process was done manually, from data collection to entry in NDNQI's database. Working collaboratively, the divisions of Nursing Informatics, Nursing Quality and Information Systems reviewed identified issues and automated the dataflow. We utilized multiple technological tools such as Microsoft Access, Oracle eGate integrator, and Microsoft Excel.

Evaluation:
Timely decision support, meaningful use, user satisfaction, and efficiency of various processes were evaluated and will be described. We will detail the following: initial problem analysis,review of workflow, database design and development, and implementation of the system

Implications for Practice:
We will demonstrate technological advances for nursing quality outcome measurement seen by this automation. Benefits described will be ease of data accessibility, standardization of required data fields; ability to query and calculate information; and exportability to other programs for analysis.