Building on successful trials at Bendigo Hospital in 2022, this latest phase aims to provide additional evidence supporting the feasibility and clinical benefits of the smart sheet system.
The study also supports recent Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations that aged care providers set about to enhance the safety health and wellbeing for residents via innovation, continuous improvement and contemporary best practice.
Since 2023, LenexaCARE® has been implemented in aged care facilities across Australia and Asia and has demonstrated improved patient and resident outcomes in pressure injury prevention.
Further clinical studies aim to provide additional evidence and increased understanding around reduced pressure injury incidence, workflow impact on staff as well as effectiveness and timeliness of resident repositioning.
The LenexaCARE® system consists of a high-tech fabric-based sensor, compatible with any mattress, that provides real time patient and resident monitoring.
A remote dashboard delivers personalised data and alerts, enabling carers to step in at the right time. The platform also aids staff in repositioning and planning turn schedules, ensuring not just repositioning but effective repositioning.
Pressure injuries are mostly preventable; however, they remain a devastating complication for residents in aged care settings, particularly where a person is immobile for a prolonged period.
Pressure injuries are also invisible to the naked eye as they develop under the skin and are often not noticed until it is too late. When a pressure injury advances to a deep wound, it can become life threatening or even fatal.
In Australia, pressure injuries cost the healthcare system over $9B annually, with 36–49% of hospital patients and 91% of aged care residents at risk. Each injury adds $13,000–$32,000 in costs per case.
Whilst incidence and prevalence of pressure injuries are considered one of the key indicators of quality care, they remain highly prevalent in both hospital and RAC settings.
In fact, they are among the top five adverse events reported in hospitalised patients and recent estimates suggest an incidence rate of 6.4% to 11.7% in Australian RAC.
“Partnering with Lenexa in this research provides an exciting opportunity to understand how individualised pressure data can support appropriate and timely repositioning, reduce risks and improve outcomes.,” said Associate Professor Ash Smyth, UC Centre for Ageing Research & Translation
“Importantly, the project will provide valuable information from staff perspectives about how the system drives clinical decision making and optimises patient care.”
“LenexaCARE works as an extra set of eyes to benefit residents as well as carers, resulting in reduced pain, suffering and significant cost as well as improved workflow and individualised care,” he said.
“Lenexa Medical is proud to be working with the University of Canberra on a project that will have a significant and far-reaching impact for residents, clinicians and health care systems.” said Ajit Ravindran, CEO Lenexa Medical
