Prevalon® Seated Positioning System (SPS) Protocol
Authors: Kathleen M Vollman MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Educator, Consultant, ADVANCING NURSING LLC;
Suzanne Harrington MS, PT, ATC, Assistant Physical Therapy Director, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL
Natalie S. McAndrew, MSN, RN, CCRN, ACNS-BC, Clinical Nurse Specialist - Medical Intensive Care Unit, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI
Kathy Krenz BS, RN, CWOCN, APN, Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse, Centegra McHenry Hospital, McHenry IL
Procedure: Prevalon® Seated Positioning System with Microclimate Management Pad
Purpose:
The purpose of the Prevalon® Seated Positioning System with Microclimate Management Pad is to help the caregiver achieve
these goals:
 Redistribute pressure to protect patients’ skin
 Promote easier breathing, swallowing through better posture
 Microclimate management to reduce the risk of moisture related skin injury.
 Help prevent skin shear and friction
 Help prevent caregiver injury during repositioning
 Help prevent patients from inadvertently sliding forward in the chair
The system is designed to provide easy patient manipulation within a chair to help achieve maximal comfort, pressure redistribution,
position shifting and reduced shear and friction forces while minimizing the physical effort required for repositioning by caregivers,
thus reducing the risk of injury to the patient and caregiver.
Independent Indications for use:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Braden friction/shear subscale score of 1.
Incontinence of urine or stool and or a Braden moisture subscale score of 2 or less.
Mobility subscale of 1 when in combination with a low moisture or friction/shear subscale scores.
Sensory/Perceptual subscale score of 2 or less.
Pre-existing sacral pressure ulcer.
Unable to achieve a sustained chair position related to comfort or lack of posture control.
Chair use after remaining in bed for >3days.
Cautions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Only use with standard hospital chair or rolling chair with brakes.
DO NOT use Prevalon® Seated Positioning System to lift patients.
Avoid direct skin contact with gray surface for hygiene purposes.
Patient repositioning should be performed following your facility’s safe patient handling policies
and procedures.
For single patient use only.
If soiled, wipe cushion with a damp cloth to clean.
Periodically check product for signs of wear. Replace if product is damaged.
Weight capacity: 350 lbs./160 kg. for Prevalon® Seated Positioning System.
Contraindications:
1.
2.
The presence of ischial pressure ulcers.
Inability/medical restriction to sitting up in a chair at 90 degrees.
Discontinue use:
1. When patient is able to independently mobilize.
References:
1. National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers: clinical practice guideline.
Washington D.C. National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel;2009.
2. Institute for health care improvement: Prevent pressure ulcers. http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/Campaign/PressureUlcers.htm. Accessed October
7th, 2007
3. Courtney BA, Ruppman JB, Cooper HM. Save our skin: Initiative cuts pressure ulcer incidence in half. Nursing Management. 2006;37(4):35-46.
4. Driver DS. Perineal dermatitis in critical care patients. Critical Care Nurse 2007;27(4):42-46.
5. Gould D, James T, Tarpey A, et al. Intervention studies to reduce the prevalence and incidence of pressure sores: a literature review. J Clin Nurs,
2000;9(2):163-177.
6. Bergstrom N, Braden B, Kemp M, Champagne M, Rudy E. Predicting pressure ulcer risk: A multisite study of the predictive validity of the Braden scale.
Nursing Research, 1998;47(5):261-269
7. Black J, Baharestani M, Cuddigan J, et al. National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel’s Updated Pressure Ulcer Staging System. Derm Nurs. 2007;19(4):343–350.
8. Gray M, Weir D. Prevention and treatment of moisture-associated skin damage (maceration) in the periwound skin. J WOCN. 2007;34(2):153–157.
9. Vollman KM. Ventilator-associated pneumonia and pressure ulcer prevention as targets for quality improvement in the ICU. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of
North America, 2006;18:453-467
10. Warner D, Konnerth K, (1993). “A patient teaching protocol for pressure ulcers prevention and management” Ostomy and Wound Management, 39 (2):
35-43
Procedure: Prevalon® Seated Positioning System with Microclimate Management Pad


Wash hands
Ensure privacy for the patient
Steps
1.
2.
Rationale
Product Setup:
Position chair with
space behind for
clinician(s) access
Make sure chair brakes
are locked.
To help ensure safety of the
caregiver during the
transfer process.
To help ensure safety of the
patient and caregiver during
the transfer process.
3.
Remove the SPS from
plastic packaging, unfold
and place on chair seat
with cushion directly
against chair seating
surface.
4.
Place cushion so product
tag is to the back of
chair, tuck cushion into
crease in chair.
If cushion is not placed
properly, its ability to both
relieve pressure and allow
for proper patient
repositioning will be
adversely affected.
Drape straps over each
side of the chair so that
they are both visible
and accessible.
DO NOT allow patient
to sit on straps.
Ensures safety of patient.
5.
Face Up
Face Down
Cushion facilitates pressure
redistribution, shear/friction
reduction & helps protect
clinicians throughout the
chair repositioning process
Special
Considerations
6.
7.
8.
Cover SPS with
enclosed Microclimate
Management Pad.
a. Do not allow the top
layer of the
cushion to slide
backwards on the
chair surface
during this process.
The microclimate
management pad is
designed for optimal heat
and moisture control under
the patient. Alternative
materials, while compatible
with the device, may not be
as effective at moisture
management or
microclimate control.
Patient Positioning:
Clinicians must have
access either behind or
on both sides of bedside
chair for this technique
a. With patient safely
seated, stand
behind chair and
grasp handle at
nearest
comfortable
location.
b. Brace a foot or leg
on the back of the
chair for support.
c. Simultaneously pull
handles until the
patient slides back
into chair, in the
upright seated
position.
d. Secure handles
behind chair so
they are safely out
of the way.
Proper patient positioning
with this device will shift
pressure away from the
sacrum and onto the larger
surface area of the
buttocks.
When patient is ready
to return to bed, the SPS
can be used to help
move the patient toward
the edge of the chair in
preparation for the
transfer process.
a. From front of chair,
grasp both straps at
the most comfortable
handle location.
b. Pull each strap in an
alternating manner
Allows clinician to help shift
the patient’s base of
support forward to help
facilitate safe transfer.
Caregiver access from the
rear or sides of the chair will
allow the clinicians to
assume a good body
position to help minimize
the risk of musculoskeletal
injury
Place a pillow
against the chair
back if needed.
(Left-right-left, etc.)
until patient is
positioned safely
toward front of chair
c. Transfer patient
to bed per your
facility’s protocol.
9.
Storage and Cleaning
a. Wipe with damp
cloth to clean.
b. Store SPS in a clean,
dry location within
patient room
© Advancing Nursing LLC, 2013
21895
The only
changeable
component of the
system is the
Microclimate Pad