Overcoming the Challenge of Support Surface Selection: Utilization of Standards

Abstract

Selecting the appropriate support surface for patients continues to challenge clinicians and facilities. The Support Surface Standards Committee has developed and published test methods that allow for informed comparisons among support surface characteristics. The first published standards address the performance characteristics of immersion/envelopment, shear/friction, and microclimate management. This article describes the full body support surface standards development and provides guidance on the use of the outcomes from those standard tests for clinicians and facilities to make more informed choices for patients and patient populations.

Back to the Future in Wound Care

“…In 2001, the National Pressure Injury Panel took the lead and established a Support Surface Standards Initiative Subcommittee. While much work remains to be done, today we have standardized terminology and validated test methods that were adopted by the American National Standards Institute and Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) 5. In other words, clinicians can decide which surface to use based on performance characteristics instead of features.…”