Continuous automated pressure ulcer monitoring.

In the spring of 2002, the nurses working in a 300-bed Midwest care center embarked on a mission to decrease patient suffering from skin breakdown and pressure ulcers. A continuous automated pressure ulcer monitoring system was developed to improve decision making and identify educational needs. As a result, the nurses have changed the skin culture of the facility and positively affected the rate of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers and non-pressure-related breakdown.