New Jersey Hospital

Association (NJHA) Pressure

Ulcer Collaborative 

A pressure ulcer is an area of skin that breaks down if a patient stays in one position for too long without shifting his or her weight. This can happen with patients who are bedridden, even for a short period of time (for example, after surgery or an injury). The constant pressure against the skin reduces the blood supply to that area, and the affected tissue dies.

A pressure ulcer starts as reddened skin but gets progressively worse, forming a blister, then an open sore, and finally a crater. The most common places for pressure ulcers are over bony prominences (bones close to the skin) like the elbow, heels, hips, ankles, shoulders, back, and the back of the head.  The wound caused by a pressure ulcer can become infected, which could lead to a prolonged hospital stay, surgery, disability or even death.

Through the pressure ulcer collaborative, healthcare professionals at SOCH and across the state are sharing simple strategies designed to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers.  These include an assessment of each patient upon admission to determine their risk for pressure ulcers, as well as a daily skin assessment during their hospital stay.  Patients at risk receive specialized care that focuses protecting areas of the skin that could develop a pressure ulcer, encouraging the patient to be as active as possible, and repositioning bed-bound patients every two hours.