Saving Costs and Breakdown Incidence with the PressureGuard Renew
Maggie Bork, RN, BSN, CETN; Vencor, San Diego
Clinical Reports: Series on Skin and Wound Care Management, April 1998.
Replacing 28 of their 65 beds with PressureGuard Renew resulted in cost savings of $16,460.15 per month after a dramatic decrease in the rental of treatment mattresses.

Long Term Usage of the PressureGuard II for the High-Risk/High Needs Patient in the Long Term and Subacute Setting
Denise Szczygiel, LPN; Integrated Health Services,Pinellas Park,FL
In 9 months of use, the PressureGuard II filled the prevention or treatment needs of 92% (69 of 75) of the patients placed on it.  Only three percent (2 of 75) experienced further skin breakdown secondary to other health complications. 

Effect of the PressureGuard II on the Incidence Rates of Facility-Acquired Pressure Ulcers
Leila Knox, RN, CETN; Casa Metropolitan Rehabilitation Center, Fresno, CA; February, 1997.
This 233-bed long-term-care and subacute facility replaced 125 (56%) of their mattresses with PressureGuard II mattresses.  Their incidence rates of facility acquired Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers decreased by 66%, and remained at those levels for more than 2 years.  This prompted them to replace the remainder of their mattresses with PressureGuard II’s.

Pressure Ulcer Pain: Assessment and Quantification
Dallam L et al; JWOCN 22(5), Sept 1995.
A cross-sectional study design was used to document the perception of pressure ulcer pain in 132 patients in an acute care setting.  “Subjects placed on [the PressureGuard II] had significantly less pain (p<0.01) than those whose lesions were not managed by this technique, including those placed on other pressure-reducing devices.”

Bed Selection
Community Hospitals, Indianapolis
Poster presented at the National WOCN Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 1998.
This poster exhibits the Bed Selection Guide produced by the ET nurses of the facility for choosing one of the five specialty mattresses available. The Guide begins with the PressureGuard II, which is their house-wide surface.  Indications for use include Stage I or Stage II pressure ulcers, or Stage III or Stage IV ulcers on one turning surface, and with the patient’s weight less than 350 lbs.

Evaluating the Long-Term Performance of a Foam-Core Hospital Replacement
Krouskop T et al; JWOCN 21(6), Nov 1994
This study compares the stiffness of new foam replacement mattresses to 2-year-old mattresses.  Stiffness at the sacral-coccyx region decreased 53%, heel region decreased 41%, and the head region decreased 30%.  A new foam replacement product may approximate the “ideal” load carrying needs, but these abilities will change significantly with time.  Foam/air combination mattresses, such as the PressureGuard Renew, with re-inflatable air tubes, will retain their pressure reducing capabilities over time.

Copies of any of the above articles and testimonials can be obtained on request.  Please contact Customer Service at 800-888-6752.
Address questions to Laurie Rappl, PT, CWS, Clinical Support Manager, at x 6942.