Sharp CA and White R.

Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment: Do we need a 'golden hour?'

Journal of wound care vol 24, no 3, march 2015

Letter to the Editor

Screening patients on admission using rapid clinical judgement, focusing on immobility, the only evidence based risk factor for pressure ulcer development,6 is the fastest way to determine risk. Interventions could then be provided immediately and pressure ulcers prevented. Accordingly reducing delays in screening for pressure ulcer risk and providing pressure relief within the first 'golden hour' must henceforth be considered as the foundation of pressure ulcer prevention. It is unconscionable to delay assessment for up to eight hours.