NPIAP: Optimizing Pressure Injury Prevention: Aligning Support Surface Selection with Patient Needs and Standardizing Prophylactic Dressing Use

Matching the Support Surface to the Patient’s Needs
Moderator/Speaker: Michele Deppisch, PT, CWS, FACCWS

Part 1 of this presentation presents an exercise in balancing the assessment of patient risk factors and matching the performance characteristics of support surfaces to mitigate patient individual risk factors or target population risk factors while also considering the impact of clinical practices. The Support Surface Standards Initiative (S3I) has developed a guidance document to assist the clinician in understanding the relevance of support surface standardized testing results in connection with clinical practice.

Creating Standards for Prophylactic Dressings
Moderator/Speaker: David Brienza, PhD

Part 2 of this presentation will explore emerging standards for prophylactic dressings developed through the Prophylactic Dressing Standards Initiative (PDSI). Attendees will gain insights into the key performance characteristics that influence a dressing’s potential to prevent pressure injuries and develop a better understanding of the strengths and limitations of comparative test results in this evolving area. The session will also provide an overview of the goals, methodology, and anticipated timeline of the PDSI, offering wound care professionals the foundational knowledge needed to support evidence-informed prevention strategies.