GCSP research stipend | Spring 2019
Collecting Data for Pressure Ulcer Monitoring and Prevention System
In 2014, pressure ulcers affected approximately 2.5 million people in the United States. These blisters form in bony prominences in bed-bound patients. If untreated, these ulcers worsen until they become infected with complications. Current devices to prevent pressure ulcers fail to individualize patient treatment. The research team thus proposes the Pressure Ulcer Monitoring and Prevention System (PUMPS) that utilizes medical metrics like body mass index (BMI) to develop an algorithm for individualized treatment. The team aims to use unidentifiable patient data approved through an international board review (IRB) to create PUMPS and improve patient care by preventing pressure ulcers.