Reduction of pressure ulcer incidence in the home healthcare setting: a pressure-relief seating cushion project to reduce the number of community-acquired pressure ulcers.

The development of pressure ulcers is a quality of care and cost issue across the healthcare continuum. Evidence-based practice includes pressure relief, but homebound elderly people at risk for developing pressure ulcers do not qualify to receive a pressure-relief seating surface under Medicare unless they have a wheelchair. A project was initiated to obtain and provide pressure-relief seat cushions for this at-risk population. The overall purpose of this project was to reduce the incidence of community-acquired pressure ulcers using evidence-based practice.