Pressure Sensing Technology Depicts Patients' Optimal Body Position to Aid Caregivers in the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers

NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwired - Mar 13, 2014) - According to a new study published in The American Journal of Critical Care, "Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping and Rates of Hospital-Associated Pressure Ulcers in a Medical Intensive Care Unit," continuous bedside pressure mapping (CBPM) provided caregivers with a useful monitor to assess the effectiveness of repositioning patients off of pressure areas, a crucial component of providing better care towards minimizing the formation of pressure ulcers. This prospective, controlled trial utilized a bedside pressure mapping device to allow caregivers to monitor, in real time, their patient repositioning efforts. The study results showed that when repositioning was completed with use of the CBPM monitor, hospital-associated pressure ulcer (HAPU) reduction was significant.

"Reducing pressure ulcers has to become a top priority for all caregivers -- they are extremely costly, in terms of both human suffering and costs to the healthcare system," said study author Robert Behrendt, RN, BSN, a clinical quality facilitator in the Office of Clinical Quality and Safety at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. "The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates 2.5 million people in the U.S. develop pressure ulcers each year, 60,000 of which ultimately die from pressure ulcer complications. The treatment of pressure ulcers costs the U.S. healthcare system approximately $9.1 to $11.6 billion each year and the cost of individual patient care ranges from $20,900 to $151,700 per pressure ulcer."

In the two-month prospective controlled study, patients whose beds in the intensive care unit were equipped with Wellsense's M.A.P™, the first-ever continuous bedside pressure mapping system, were less likely to develop a pressure ulcer than patients whose beds were not equipped with the monitor. Only two out of 213 patients (0.9%) in the CBPM group developed a pressure ulcer compared to 10 out of 209 (4.8%) in control group (p=0.02). Anecdotal feedback from the nurses confirmed that the mapping function helped them feel more confident about the effectiveness of their repositioning of patients.

"Hospital acquired pressure ulcer prevention interventions have made an impact around the country. Despite this, challenges remain in acute care settings, especially intensive care units," said lead investigator Aamir Siddiqui, MD, Division Head of Plastic Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. "With the use of the M.A.P, caregivers were able to provide more effective repositioning and off-loading of pressure which is key toward reducing the formation of pressure ulcers."

In a previous pilot study of the CBPM technology conducted by the team at Henry Ford, only one out of 307 (0.3%) patients monitored with real-time CBPM technology developed a pressure ulcer compared to 16 out of 320 (5%) patients in the historical control group who were placed on the same beds without the M.A.P one year prior. In a survey of the medical ICU (MICU) care providers, 90% of respondents reported that continuous bedside pressure mapping contributed to improved pressure detection and relief, 88% indicated the system assisted them with repositioning protocols, and 84% reported the pressure map provided for more efficient and effective patient repositioning.

"There are many challenges to repositioning an ICU patient but this technology has been shown to provide caregivers with a simple tool to better understand best practices for offloading pressure and to anticipate when patients are at increased risk for developing a pressure ulcer," said Dr. Siddiqui.

The M.A.P's pressure sensing mat is made of an intelligent textile, which constantly measures pressure from thousands of discrete points. The variations in pressure across a patient's body are depicted on a monitor, using a color scheme to help caregivers visualize high (red) to low (blue) pressure points, which enables them to easily identify and minimize areas of high pressure.

About the M.A.P™

M.A.P™ is the first-ever, clinically proven, continuous bedside monitoring system that detects and depicts the variations in pressure across a patient's body, to aid caregivers with pressure ulcer prevention programs. Used on any existing bed, M.A.P™ enables caregivers to visualize real time pressure distribution data to guide effective patient repositioning. The live, color feedback provided by M.A.P™ empowers caregivers to easily identify early warning signs of risk to patient safety and has a demonstrated ability to improve upon a facility's pressure ulcer prevention program efforts.

About Wellsense

Wellsense, the leader in continuous bedside pressure mapping technology with its innovative M.A.P™, is a leading mobile health company dedicated to patient safety throughout the continuum of care. Wellsense was founded in 2009 to commercialize medical applications of a smart textile technology. The company's founders and management bring a strong track record of innovating and commercializing breakthrough technologies in consumer electronics, patient safety and monitoring. Wellsense is a privately held company. Additional information is available at www.themapsystem.com.

* M.A.P™ from Wellsense is intended for bedside pressure mapping and monitoring. M.A.P™ is a "tool" and not a "treatment" which is used by physicians to assess and map bed pressure. The clinical data above discusses pressure ulcers and wound care. M.A.P™ is not intended to treat, cure, prevent, mitigate or diagnose wounds or any specific disease. Physicians should use their best judgment and clinical experience when deciding when and where to use M.A.P™. Full M.A.P™ prescribing information is available at www.themapsystem.com.