WOCN's Guideline Accepted by National Guideline Clearinghouse

Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers, from the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN), Glenview, IL, has been accepted by the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). The NGC is a comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related doc uments produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research), in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans. The NGC has stringent criteria that must be met for a clinical practice guideline to be included.

The WOCN's pressure ulcer guideline, applicable in all settings, will assist health care professionals in implementing preventive measures before pressure ulcers develop. If a pressure ulcer has developed, the guideline can assist the professional with essential assessment components that are fundamental to determining appropriate therapy. The guideline includes an algorithm to determine wound etiology, a comprehensive glossary, and several appendices with tools for managing pressure ulcers.

Developed by a panel representing a wide-range of experience and clinical practice backgrounds, the Guideline for Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers is based on a review of more than 200 articles.

Information: http://www.wocn.org