The Shieh Score as a Risk Assessment Instrument for Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Shieh Score's effectiveness in decreasing the rate of hospital-acquired pressure injuries when combined with an early warning notification system and standard order set of preventative measures. DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: This target population was nonpregnant, adult, hospitalized patients on inpatient and observation status at a tertiary hospital (Kaiser Permanente, Baldwin Park, California) during the 2020 year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A new, risk assessment instrument, the Shieh Score, was developed in 2019 to predict hospitalized patients at high risk for pressure injuries. Data collection occurred between January 21, 2020, and December 31, 2020. When a hospital patient met the high-risk criteria for the Shieh Score, a provider-ordered pink-colored sheet of paper titled “Skin at Risk” was hung at the head of the bed and a standard order set of pressure injury preventative measures was implemented by nursing staff. RESULTS: Implementation of the program (Shieh Score, early warning system, and standard order set for preventive interventions) resulted in a 38% reduction in the annual hospital-acquired pressure injury rate from a mean incidence rate of 1.03 to 0.64 hospital-acquired pressure injuries per 1000 patient-days measured for the year 2020. CONCLUSION: The Shieh Score is a pressure injury risk assessment instrument, which effectively identifies patients at high risk for hospital-acquired pressure injuries and decreases the hospital-acquired pressure injury rate when combined with an early warning notification system and standard order set.