The risk management of medical device-related pressure ulcers based on the Australian/New Zealand Standard

OBJECTIVE: To analyse medical device-related pressure ulcer (MDRPU) management modes and their possible risks and provide references to treat MDRPUs. METHODS: The Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS) 4360:2004 risk management standard is the first national risk management standard in the world. Zhongshan Hospital adopted the standard to establish risk management modes to improve the MDRPU risk management process and to register, assess and analyse the key risks for MDRPUs. Eight risk types were identified and registered: organization management risk, environment risk, patient safety risk, human resource risk, infection risk, occupational safety risk, legal risk and reputational risk. RESULTS: Following the implementation of the AS/NZS 4360:2004 risk management standard in our institution, the organization management risk value decreased from 25 to 5; the environment risk value decreased from 25 to 5; the patient safety risk value decreased from 20 to 3; the human resource risk value decreased from 16 to 4; the infection risk value decreased from 9 to 1; the occupational risk value decreased from 9 to 6; the legal risk value decreased from 9 to 4; and the reputational risk value decreased from 12 to 2. CONCLUSION: The AS/NZS 4360:2004 risk management standard was effective in managing the risk of MDRPUs.