The Joint Commission issued a quick safety advisory Oct. 9 with best practices for the early identification of severe pressure injuries.
The advisory encourages clinicians to look for certain warning signs and symptoms that may suggest a severe pressure injury, as wounds can be more severe than is visible to the naked eye. Skin assessments should include a visual examination as well as physician inspection to feel for differences in temperature and tissue consistency.
Any detected warning signs should trigger a surgical consultation and evaluation for the need for debridement, according to the advisory.
"Involvement of the surgical team as soon as possible helps not just in early detection but also in early interventions," The Joint Commission said.
See the list of warning signs to watch for here.