Though resting in bed for an extended period of time may sound rather nice to most people, the bedsores that develop on hospital patients who are bedridden for weeks or months are not appealing whatsoever — and can even lead to death. Also known as pressure-ulcers, bedsores occur when the skin breaks down after pressing on a mattress for a long period of time.Now, the company Wellsense has developed an alert monitor that can track pressure points on a person’s body and assist caregivers in adjusting the patient’s position every few hours to prevent bedsores. The Monitor Alert Project (MAP) is a monitor-connected mattress that illustrates the likely bedsore spots on the patient’s body. On its website, Wellsense describes the project: “The Map System is the first ever, Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping System (CBPM). Used seamlessly on any existing bed, MAP allows caregivers to place and position patients using actual pressure distribution data. The MAP System provides instant feedback to guide caregivers through off-loading pressure accurately.”
Bedsores are categorized into four stages, where stage I is the earliest and least severe and includes a reddening of the pressure spot on the skin. Stage II and stage III cause the skin to blister and form an open sore, and ultimately turn into a sunken hole that is called a crater. Stage IV involves an ulcer that has damaged the muscle, bone, and often tendons.Though it’s a preventable problem, up to 60,000 Americans die from bedsores every year, and nearly 2.5 million are affected. A 2012 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older people who developed bedsores during their time in the hospital were more likely to die, to stay longer in the hospital, and to be readmitted within 30 days of their discharge.Currently, caregivers must reposition patients in order to relieve the pressure and pain caused by being in one position for a long time. Patients seated in wheelchairs need to move around and reposition themselves every 15 minutes if possible, while those lying in beds should reposition every two hours.
Other traditional ways of preventing bedsores involve special mattress pads, cushions, and water-filled mattresses that may lessen pressure spots. Bathing and inspecting the skin is also important. If the patient has enough strength to lift themselves, often trapeze bars are placed that can help them reposition themselves.The MAP System may make it easier and more clear for nurses and other healthcare professionals (as well as patients themselves) to identify what spots on the body may be at risk of developing ulcers. On the small monitor, the system shows in red what parts on the body have the most pressure, and with blue, what areas have the least pressure. In a video describing the product, the Wellsense claims that in experiments, the MAP mattress prevented bedsores in patients nearly up to 100 percent and saved hospitals thousands of dollars.Bedsores are "the most prevalent hospital-acquired condition," the Healthcare Management Council stated in 2010, and "the second most expensive condition — costing a facility an average total of roughly $536,900 annually.
A patient acquiring a bedsore required on average $9,200 in extra care."Underpads, Chux, Bed Pads and Waterproof Mattress Protectors Choose from a wide selection of waterproof underpads, bed pads, sheet protectors and furniture protectors below. Underpads are flat absorbent pads that protect on top of upholstery or sheets to reduce linen changes and are available in many sizes and absorbencies. Disposable underpads, often referred to generically as chux, are very popular multipurpose protectors while washable underpads are most popular with family caregivers as they stay in place better than disposable pads and save money over time. Mattress Protectors and Encasements are also waterproof but are designed to protect the mattress itself from contamination. It is very common for bed to be protected with both a mattress protector and an underpad in many situations. All our mattress protectors and many of our underpads are breathable so they are not hot to sleep on, yet they are fully waterproof.
Our underpads are also extremely popular for pet owners as training pads or many other uses and provide a big savings over retail puppy pads while providing more options for sizes and absorbencies. Airflow underpads are extra-breathable and designed specifically for low air loss mattresses and beds to aid in prevention of bed sores. Disposable Underpads - Chux Protects furniture, sheets or wheelchairs from leakage. Choose standard blue chux or superabsorbent pads in many sizes. Waterproof, reusable bed & furniture protectors are heavy-duty to stay in place and last for many washings. Mattress & Pillow Protectors Waterproof but not hot to sleep on. Fitted-sheet style, washable & breathable. Use under sheets to protect mattress. Pet Pads & Puppy Pads Protect furnishings and vehicles with disposable or washable pads for your puppy or other pets. Designed for low air loss therapy beds. Allows air to flow freely to skin while protecting sheets. Protect mattress, box spring or pillow from moisture, bed bugs, dust mites & other allergens.
Protect chairs, loveseats, sofas, chaises & recliners from spills, stains, pets & sun damage. Disposable pads protect changing tables, beds, chairs or other surfaces at home or on the go. Popular Extra Care Products Stain & Odor ControlThe MAP System provides a real-time display of the pressure points on a patient's body For long-term hospital patients or people who are otherwise bedridden, bedsores can be a major problem. Technically known as decubitus ulcers, they form when one area of the skin is subjected to too much prolonged pressure. In order to keep them from occurring, hospital staff regularly turn patients over in their beds. The MAP System is designed to aid those caregivers, by providing them with real-time imagery of the pressure points on the patient’s body.Made by medical tech firm Wellsense, MAP (monitor, alert, protect) consists of two main parts: a pressure-sensing mat that is placed on an existing mattress, and a bedside monitor.Thousands of sensing points within that mat continuously register how much pressure is being exerted upon them by the patient, and relay that information to the monitor.
There, a corresponding pressure distribution map of the patient’s body is displayed, indicating high- and low-pressure areas. Using that information, staff can make sure to relieve pressure in the crucial places when repositioning the patient.A countdown also appears on the screen, indicating the amount of time left before the next repositioning will be required.The general idea of using pressure-sensing mattress pads to minimize the occurrence of bedsores isn’t particularly new, in and of itself. In most cases, however, it’s done to obtain a single snapshot-style reading, which is then used as a reference. MAP is reportedly unique in that it provides continuous, real-time feedback.Wellsense certainly isn’t the only group working at alleviating bedsores. Swiss research group Empa has created sheets that produce fewer points of contact with the skin, along with a bed that repositions the patient by moving the mattress.More information on the MAP System is available in the video below.