Those who are trying to improve their wound care programs, take note: A pressure ulcer collaborative in New Jersey this week reported a 70% reduction in the incidence of new pressure ulcers after a nearly two-year effort.

The New Jersey Hospital Association’s Pressure Ulcer Collaborative, which is composed of 150 hospitals, nursing homes and home care agencies, met more than 22 months ago to develop and share standardized preventive strategies. It tracked data from September 2005 through May 2007.

Facilities used common improvement techniques over the study period. These included complete skin evaluation within eight hours of admission; evaluation of the risk of skin breakdown using the internationally respected Braden scale; implementation of preventive strategies, such as proper positioning and use of assistive devices; and ongoing observation of the condition of patients’ skin, particularly for those identified as being at high risk for developing a pressure ulcer.