Long-Wave Infrared Thermography Helps LTACH Achieve Pressure Injury Success

Long-wave infrared thermography was a key factor in preventing hospital-acquired pressure injuries at one long-term acute care hospital (LTACH), according to a study published in Advances in Skin & Wound Care.

“Hospital-acquired pressure injuries have been increasing nationally,” wrote Mindy Holster, AAS, RRT, HACP-CMS, director of quality management at ContinueCARE Hospital, Hendrick Medical Center, Abilene, Texas. “To help reduce hospital-acquired pressure injury rates and to increase healing rates of all pressure injuries, including those that are present on admission, a 23-bed LTACH implemented a hospital-acquired pressure injury prevention and treatment protocol using new technology as a tool for patient skin assessments.”

In addition to pressure injury treatment and prevention bundles created by the skin care team, the protocol featured the use of long-wave infrared thermography for every patient admitted to the facility. The technology provides photographic images of all pressure injuries as well as thermal images of the subcutaneous tissue below them. Staff implemented treatment and prevention measures as soon as a pressure injury was identified.

After a 75-day evaluation, long-wave infrared thermography became a permanent part of the hospital-acquired pressure injury treatment and prevention program.

“The use of long-wave infrared thermography has become common practice in this facility,” the author reported. “The LTACH facility maintained a zero hospital-acquired pressure injury rate for 10 months after implementation of long-wave infrared thermography.”

Reference:
Holster M. Driving outcomes and improving documentation with long-wave infrared thermography in a long-term acute care hospital. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2023;36(4):189-193. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000912676.73372.a8