Preventing pressure injuries after spinal cord injury with a clinic decision tool
Implementing a Decision Support Tool to prevent Community-Acquired Pressure injury in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic.
A short questionnaire plus a provider report to help Veterans with spinal cord injury spot and prevent pressure sores.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hines, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178113 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or your VA provider will use a short questionnaire you can complete at home or on an iPad to identify your risks and what help you need to avoid pressure injuries. The clinic receives a printed or electronic report that lists your answers and recommended actions for your provider to follow. The tool was piloted at one VA clinic and is being rolled out in phases to six more VA spinal cord injury clinics so staff can learn to use it and researchers can compare results. The team will track how often the tool is used and whether it reduces community-acquired pressure injuries and improves care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Veterans with spinal cord injury who receive care at participating VA spinal cord injury clinics and who are at risk for pressure sores are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without spinal cord injury, those not seen at participating VA clinics, or those already in long-term inpatient facilities are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help prevent community pressure injuries and lead to earlier, more personalized care for Veterans with SCI.
How similar studies have performed: A pilot at one VA site showed feasibility, and related screening and decision-support programs have reduced pressure injuries in some settings, though community-focused tools for SCI are less common.
Where this research is happening
Hines, United States
- Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital — Hines, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burkhart, Elizabeth — Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital
- Study coordinator: Burkhart, Elizabeth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.