Enhancing the Management of Pressure Injuries Through Technology-Enhanced Communities of Practice

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries affect one in six patients in Alberta’s acute care sites, causing significant pain, complications, and even death. These injuries are critical indicators of healthcare quality, with high rates often reflecting systemic issues in care delivery. Accurate staging and assessment are essential for selecting effective treatment plans, but these processes are especially challenging in rural and remote areas due to limited access to wound care specialists. Given the wide scope of this clinical problem, the project focuses on identifying the highest-priority gaps that can be addressed using virtual care technologies. Pressure injuries, also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers, are common in healthcare settings, particularly among patients with limited mobility, such as those with spinal injuries. These injuries can cause severe pain and lead to life-threatening complications if untreated. Because pressure injuries are generally preventable, their prevalence is often viewed as an indicator of the quality of care. An audit of acute care sites in Alberta revealed that approximately one in every six patients had a pressure injury. However, assessing and staging these injuries is challenging, as it relies heavily on subjective human evaluation, typically by nurses without specialized wound care training. Many Registered Nurses (RNs) are uncomfortable with the responsibility, fearing inaccuracy in staging due to a lack of specialized expertise.