A Case Study in Communication Strategies used for Pressure Ulcer Prevention in a Nursing Home with High IT Sophistication.

Abstract

Current strategies for improving the care of millions of elderly people living in nursing homes (NH) include the implementation of information technology (IT). Few studies exist about the implementation of NH IT although there is evidence of increasing NH IT sophistication globally. NH IT sophistication includes a measure of the maturity and diversity of IT used to support resident care, clinical support, and administration. The current paper includes a case study of 1 NH known to have high IT sophistication in the Midwestern USA. The NH was purposively selected from 185 NHs taking part in a statewide evaluation of NH IT sophistication in Missouri. This NH reported the highest IT sophistication among 185 NHs. The research aim was to explore communication strategies for evidence based pressure ulcer preventions in NH IT. Focus group and observational data were collected to assess facilitators and barriers to communicating pressure ulcer preventions.