Leaf Healthcare Study: Integrated Positioning Index™ Takes Guesswork Out of Patient Turning and Reduces Pressure Injuries

PLEASANTON, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaf Healthcare, which makes one of the world's most innovative medical devices for pressure ulcer prevention, has developed the Integrated Positioning Index™, a new, accurate way to assess and manage pressure injury prevention efforts.  The index is the first tool that precisely measures the effectiveness of patient turning and forecasts the risk for pressure injuries, enabling providers to intervene.

Presenting at the Society for Technology in Anesthesia annual meeting this week, Leaf Healthcare CEO and co-founder Barrett Larson will share findings from a study of more than 4,200 patients monitored by the Leaf Patient Monitoring System. Analysis of more than 350,000 hours of data enabled development of an objective measure of the quality of patient mobility, the Integrated Positioning Index.  Researchers found the incidence of pressure injuries was five times higher when the IPI was below 85.

"It is well accepted that immobility and lack of movement increase the risk for complications, such as pressure injuries," said Larson. "The Integrated Positioning Index is the first objective metric of a patient's mobility level while in bed.  This metric will allow providers to better manage patient care and mitigate risk of pressure injuries."

The IPI algorithm incorporates three major factors that are related to the development of pressure injuries: the frequency of patient turns (time elapsed between turns), magnitude of patient turns (turn angle) and the amount of tissue reperfusion time (time between periods of tissue ischemia).  The IPI can be tracked over time for individual patients or groups of patients to help guide clinical care.

Pressure injuries are among the nation's most common facility-acquired conditions, affecting more than 2.5 million patients a year, and adding $11 billion to annual U.S. healthcare costs.

"There is great need for reliable tools that can be used to prevent pressure injuries," said Tracey Yap, PhD, RN, FAAN, an associate professor in the Duke University School of Nursing and a member of the Leaf Clinical Advisory Board. "Though technology has dramatically transformed medicine in many areas, pressure injury prevention continues to rely on procedures pioneered more than 150 years ago. I believe that Leaf Healthcare is committed to helping close the technology gap and is working to develop the tools needed to help keep patients safe."

Several studies have shown the Leaf System improves patient turning and mobility, reduces pressure injury rates, helps nurses prioritize patient care, improves unit workflow, and saves hospitals non-reimbursed costs associated with the treatment of pressure injuries, as well as rental bed costs.

The system wirelessly monitors patients' mobility and automatically documents their progress along a prescribed mobility protocol. The system tracks patient movement and activity in bed-bound, chair-bound, and ambulatory patients.

About Leaf Healthcare, Inc.

Leaf Healthcare creates wireless patient monitoring solutions for healthcare providers seeking efficient, cost effective ways to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes.  Its patient monitoring system wirelessly monitors patient position and movement and uses that data to automate and document mobility protocols for patients.  The company will incorporate more monitoring features and capabilities into its technology platform, enabling more improvements to patient safety, clinical efficiency and patient outcomes. To learn more, visit www.leafhealthcare.com

Media Contact:

Mark Smith
Leaf Healthcare
844-826-5323
[email protected]

Jim Martinez
312-543-9026
[email protected]

SOURCE Leaf Healthcare

Related Links

http://www.leafhealthcare.com