Research Presented at Tissue Viability Society Meeting Shows Benefits of Using Wellsense's M.A.P(TM) in the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers

KETTERING, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - Apr 17, 2013) - New research presented at the 32nd Annual Conference of the Tissue Viability Society (TVS) demonstrates improvement in the prevention of pressure ulcers with the use of Wellsense's M.A.P™, the first-ever continuous bedside pressure mapping system. A poster presentation, "Evaluation of a continuous bedside pressure mapping system to measure the effectiveness of a patient repositioning intervention in the prevention of pressure ulcers in two UK Acute (Hospital) Orthopaedic Trauma wards" will be presented by Mark Collier, Lead Nurse/Consultant-Tissue Viability, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK and Michelle Greenwood, Lead Tissue Viability Nurse at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust at the TVS meeting at Kettering Conference Centre on April 17-18, 2013.

The results of the study show that no new hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) developed in patients using the M.A.P™ in six months of care at Walsall Manor Hospital (Walsall, West Midlands) and three months at Pilgrim Hospital (Boston, Lincolnshire). The visual feedback from the M.A.P™ bedside control display helped staff optimise patient position for increased comfort and decreased pressure and overall increased efficiency of nursing time by prioritising repositioning requirements.

"For decades, in an effort to prevent pressure ulcers, caregivers have been repositioning patients in bed but until now they haven't had any feedback to confirm that their adjustments are effective," commented Mark Collier. "New continuous bedside pressure mapping technology now offers caregivers a visual image of where pressures exist beneath patients, taking the guesswork out of how to best redistribute pressure. This new research within the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) demonstrates the clinical benefits of this technology in clinical practice in the UK and supports the UK's NHS mandate for zero pressure ulcers."

According to the study, ward leadership and staff discovered the M.A.P™ enhanced their approach to repositioning patients to minimise risk of pressure ulcers occurring. Staff found the technology easy to use and also valuable as an educational tool, helping patients and families understand the importance of repositioning and enabling them to be more involved in this process. Some patients also experienced improved sleeping patterns as a result of the improved care offered by the M.A.P™.

Pressure ulcer development has been identified by NHS as one of four harms to patients that should be addressed and is considered a key indicator of patient safety. The NHS Midlands and East have set a goal to eliminate all avoidable pressure ulcers. A key tool for achieving this goal is the introduction of the SSKIN bundle, of which patient repositioning is a vital component, to minimize the risk of pressure ulcer development.

The M.A.P™ 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. The M.A.P™ serves as a supportive tool for caregivers by providing live, visual feedback as they reposition patients.

"There is a huge unmet need to decrease the incidence of pressure ulcers and reduce the human suffering and enormous cost associated with their treatment," said Michelle Greenwood. "Our pressure ulcer prevention program was enhanced by the visual validation from this continuous bedside pressure mapping technology, which showed caregivers how to effectively reposition, rather than blindly turn patients to prevent pressure ulcers."

According to research from the National Health Service, it is estimated that just under half a million people in the UK will develop at least one pressure ulcer in any given year and approximately one in 20 people who are hospitalized with a sudden illness will develop a pressure ulcer. Based on 10.2% prevalence in 2009, the Department of Health estimated the incidence of pressure ulcers in the UK equated to 29,800 acquired in hospital and 20,700 in the community. This amounts to an estimated cost of £2,838 in hospital care per patient and £2,286 in follow-on community care costs. These figures suggest that reducing or eliminating pressure ulcers could lead to annual savings of £154 million.

About the M.A.P™

The 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 in the prevention of hospital acquired pressure ulcers. Used on any existing bed, the M.A.P™ enables caregivers to visualize real time pressure distribution data to guide effective patient repositioning. The M.A.P™ live, color feedback 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 Ltd 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 and wound care. Wellsense USA Inc. and Wellsense Ltd are privately held companies. Additional information is available at www.themapsystem.com.