Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) remain a persistent and dangerous complication in critical care settings, particularly within intensive care units (ICUs). Several contributing factors including staffing, patient acuity, extended mechanical ventilation, proning, and sedative use.

An assessment survey conducted by the ICU HAPI champions revealed specific educational gaps in bed selection, documentation, skin care workflows, and escalation protocols. At the same time, infrastructure limitations such as outdated beds, manual transfers, and missing patient repositioning aids were contributing to patient harm.

ICU leaders convened a specialized HAPI Task Force comprised of bedside nurses, wound care specialists, intensivists, respiratory therapists, quality consultants, nutritionists, and physical therapists. Recognizing that outdated surfaces contributed to skin shearing and breakdown, the ICU piloted and adopted the Hercules Repositioning System, a state-of-the-art dynamic pressure redistribution system. This innovation was pivotal in reducing friction and allowing for easier patient scooting, especially in ventilated or sedated patients.

The Hercules Repositioning System uses a sheet system integrated into the mattress and with the push of a button, it gently repositions the patient upward toward the head of the bed. In addition, the secondary benefit to using this system includes reduction of staff workload, staff injury and reduction of infection transmission.

Within three months of implementing the Hercules system, in addition to ceiling lifts education, and standardized practices, ICU had decreased its HAPIs. The significant reduction in HAPI rates at our ICU demonstrates how frontline leadership, coupled with innovation, can transform patient care. The system aided our team in decreasing pressure injuries and reducing nurse workload. This technological advancement combined with targeted education and standardized workflows, empowered nurses to deliver exceptional care and protect our most vulnerable patients.