Healthcare Safety Toolkit Library

Use of the Braden Scale is a best practice in patient assessment for determining which patients are at the highest risk of developing pressure sores. This table format of the Braden Scale is a quick and easy risk assessment for staff to use which can be incorporated into the medical record.

A tool to facilitate appropriate documentation of pressure ulcers. This tool provides a place to insert a photo, prompts staff to answer descriptive questions regarding the wound and also provides definitions to ensure consistency of descriptions among staff.

A sample policy that can be used as a guide in development of your own organizational policy for photographic documentation of pressure ulcers.

Photography is a common method used to document pressure ulcers. The use of photography for wound documentation is an organizational choice and not mandatory. However, if an organization chooses to use photography, care should be taken to ensure polices are in place for its use and staff are trained in the use of this type of documentation. The Fact Sheet, developed by the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, outlines what processes should be in place at an organization that uses photography for documentation of pressure ulcers.

This tool will help the Risk Manager evaluate occurrences which involve the development or worsening of pressure ulcers during a patient’s admission.

A checklist that can be used to evaluate pressure ulcer prevention practices. This tool assists your organization in determining if individual staff techniques are in line with current best practices in pressure ulcer prevention.

Acitve shooter events are increasing more and more across the U.S. and the experts have developed tools to help the lay person identify a potential active shooter as a risk reduction strategy.

Healthcare organizations should take the possiblity of an active shooter event occuring in their facility very seriously. These resources provide key tactics on managing violent and disruptive behavior as a risk reduction process.