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Photo by Darian Warden

The Memorial Hospital at Craig was recently recognized by Medline Industries with an Excellence Award for its work with a pressure ulcer prevention program. The hospital collaborates with the Visiting Nurse Association and Sandrock Ridge Care & Rehab. After receiving training, the hospital reported zero pressure ulcers in its patients from January 2012 to June 2012.

Craig — The Memorial Hospital at Craig was recently recognized by Medline Industries with an Excellence Award for its work with a pressure ulcer prevention program.

Pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores, affect millions of people each year and can be expensive to treat. The estimated treatment cost is $43,180 per case, according to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

The Memorial Hospital had all nurses, certified nursing assistants, emergency medical services and emergency technicians go through the program training process. After receiving training, the hospital reported zero pressure ulcers in patients from January 2012 to June 2012.

The hospital collaborates with the Visiting Nurse Association and Sandrock Ridge Care & Rehab to make sure patients across the board are receiving the care they need, hospital officials said.

“Prevention is key,” hospital RN/PT care planner Wendy Furman said. “This program puts everyone on the same page.”

The hospital’s chief quality officer, Beka Warren, said the program was an effort to bring the continuum of care together.

Myranda Lyons, director of nursing for Centennial Home Care, said part of the prevention training includes learning how to reposition patients, using padding, teaching families how to help support a patient, and encouragement for the patient.

Darian Warden can be reached at 875-1793 or dwarden@craigdailypress.com