Pressure ulcer prevention tech specialist welcomes SEM device recommendations in new clinical guidelines
Following the release of the new Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries for healthcare professionals, BBI Europe has welcomed the recommendation of using a sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) measurement device as an adjunct to standard of care.
Within the new guidelines, experts suggest that healthcare professionals use an SEM device alongside their existing routine clinical assessment of the skin to help identify the risk of pressure ulcers amongst patients.
BBI Europe specialises in biometric sensor technology for early identification and monitoring of chronic, preventable conditions in collaboration with clinicians. BBI’s SEM Scanner is a hand-held, portable, skin tissue assessment device that measures sub-epidermal moisture, which is an invisible precursor to the development of incipient pressure damage.
With the new Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) introducing new evidence-based recommendations for using a SEM/oedema measurement device as an adjunct to routine clinical assessment, BBI says that this “signals the end to centuries old purely subjective skin assessments.”
Figures from BBI estimate one out of every 22 people in England currently have an open wound on their skin caused by a pressure ulcer/injury.
Welcoming the new recommendation, Martin Burns, BBI CEO, said: “The days of subjective skin assessments of this #1 reported patient harm being the only tool available to nurses in their diagnosis of PU/PIs are over.
“We are very pleased that measurement of SEM is recommended by the new evidence-based CPGs as an adjunct to the existing routine clinical assessment of the skin. Nurses will be significantly aided in their day-to-day work as a result of this.”
The SEM Scanner is the only CE Marked and FDA authorised device for pressure ulcer risk assessment.
“It is encouraging to see that the 2019 recommendations from global leading authorities and experts have recognised developments in clinical understanding of PU/PI development including the role of SEM”, Martin added. “Clinicians estimate that around 95% of PU/PI are preventable. Our singular objective is to reduce PU/PI incidence by helping clinicians make prevention real.
“Anatomy specific risk assessment using the SEM Scanner addresses chronic latency problems; PU/PI detection latency and interventional latency. The SEM Scanner is the only CE Marked and FDA Authorised device for this clinical purpose.
“Where we have seen our SEM Scanner in use, nurses have published significant decreases in hospital acquired PU/PIs; a 92% reduction being the latest published number.”