Scanner can detect bedsores up to five days earlier

Australian aged care provider Peninsula Villages has introduced the Provizio SEM Scanner to assist clinicians with the early detection of pressure injuries amongst residents.

Created in the UK, the scanner can detect injuries up to five days earlier than visual skin assessments can, enabling them to take a preventative approach to treatment. It is hoped this will reduce the need for hospitalisation.

Pressure injuries, also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores, are defined as localised damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue, which usually occur over a bony prominence. These injuries typically arise from pressure or friction, which can deform cells. Typically, the location of pressure injuries includes the heels or the sacrum area, with those who are older or have less mobility at a higher risk of developing them.

Steve Wills, Executive Care Manager of Peninsula Villages on the Central Coast, NSW, said, “The Provizio SEM Scanner is a non-invasive handheld device that assists in preventing pressure injuries.

“By using this sub epidermal moisture scanning device, we will be able to detect changes under the skin that suggest the early onset of pressure damage that could later lead to ulcers. This is a particularly important early warning system because most pressure sores do not heal easily and require regular treatment or hospitalisation,” he continued.

It is estimated that the total cost of pressure injuries in Australian public hospitals in 2020 was $9.11 billion per year, of which treatment cost was $3.59 billion¹. Furthermore, there were over 12,000 pressure injuries in all residential aged care facilities in the first three months of 2020, according to the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program.

“Pressure injuries and pressure ulcers represent a significant clinical and financial burden for both aged care providers and hospitals worldwide,” Wills continued.

“Pressure injuries can occur 3 to 10 days before becoming visible through inflammatory changes in the skin and underlying tissues. Injuries can develop quickly with irreversible damage occurring in vulnerable residents within a matter of hours.”

^{1. International Journal of Nursing Studies, ‘Pressure injuries in Australian public hospitals: A cost of illness study’, Volume 130, June 2022, 104191}

Image caption: Provizio SEM Scanner. Image supplied.