How Tranquility Improves IP and HAI Practices

Improving IP Practices During and After COVID-19

We continue to discover new ways Tranquility products can elevate IP practices by improving incontinence care, reducing caregiver exposure time, and containing bodily fluids.

Reducing caregiver and patient/resident exposure time, during the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season, is critical, particularly for those who have these highly transmissible viruses. Patients/residents with mis-managed incontinence may require 4-8 product, clothing, and linen changes per day, representing a significant workload for facility caregivers and increased risk of virus transmission.

In a recent 28-day unbiased trial (no product training) at a large Northeast VA facility, Tranquility reduced caregiver and patient exposure time by 61%, while also reducing the number of brief changes (by 29%), clothing changes (by 65%), and linen changes (by 53%). The ability to reduce exposure time is essential as we strive to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases throughout our healthcare facilities.

Tranquility products absorb multiple voids and allow for extended wear times compared to most other absorbent products. Our superabsorbent technology locks away urine in the core and neutralizes pH, reduces odor, and inhibits bacterial growth.

Containing urine and stool inside an absorbent product can be a critical aspect in preventing the spread of infectious disease. Therefore, the containment of urine and stool must be a component of incontinence management. Meanwhile, some facilities manage incontinence with “open-air” (using only an underpad and no body-worn absorbent product like a brief or pull-on style absorbent product); however, skin health can be maintained and even improved with superabsorbent products. Locking away urine and neutralizing its pH fosters an environment for advanced wound healing.

Reducing HAI with Tranquility

According to the CDC, there are approximately 1.7 million HAIs per year¹. However, experts claim that 55-70% of HAIs are preventable². With roughly 32% of all HAIs attributed to urinary tract infections (UTIs), incontinence care practices can significantly impact HAI in healthcare facilities. Additionally, skin and soft issue infections make up over 10% of HAI in adults over the age of 65³.

Over the past several years, we have learned that Tranquility reduces the number and frequency of HAIs by offering a superior alternative to catheter use for incontinence management. Significant attention to catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and the elimination of reimbursements for costs associated with healthcare-acquired CAUTI, has led facilities to seek new ways to manage long-term and heavy incontinence.

The clinical design of Tranquility products, including pH neutralization, superabsorbent polymers that keep moisture off the skin, and inhibition of bacterial growth, makes our premium incontinence solutions ideal for incontinence management in long-term care and acute care. Improving the skin microclimate to eliminate moisture and promote healing offers comfort to wearers and improved clinical outcomes for facilities by reducing incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) as well as pressure injuries.

In a recent 30-day trial at a West Coast VA facility, the direct care staff reported Tranquility Products performed better in four areas in comparison to the briefs previously used by the facility.

“I can say without a doubt that even though the initial cost seemed higher, we are now using LESS products due to the great effect these Tranquility products have. Our skin problems because of wetness are 0%, satisfaction of the staff and residents and their families (which is always MOST important) has never been higher. And the residents are sleeping through the night, which of course has resulted in a higher level of wellness, less stress on the resident, fewer mind and physical complaints, and a much lower transfer rate to outside treatment facilities for care. We can now focus on resident care and their needs, which again makes everyone happier.”

– J.P., Director of Nursing, State Veteran’s Home, Fayetteville, AR

About Tranquility

The Tranquility Product Family, including ComfortCare™, Select®, and Tranquility® brands, is designed to address risk factors and care protocols that can materially affect the quality of care for individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and home settings. For 30 years, Tranquility has pioneered the development of advanced absorbent technologies that address clinical and safety risks in healthcare to decrease waste, reduce costs, and significantly improve the quality of life for those with chronic health challenges.

Let Tranquility Demonstrate in Your Facility

Partner with Tranquility and we will demonstrate the IP and HAI improvements across your facility. With our no-cost trials, we can customize the products, timeline, training, and data collection to demonstrate the impact Tranquility can have in both your incontinence care, as well as in improving clinical outcomes and reducing costs across multiple aspects of your organization.

Please contact us to further discuss considerations for your facility, including the goals you have for improving IP, HAI, resident care, resident outcomes, caregiver efficiency, reducing costs, and others. We would love to hear from you and support the best incontinence management solutions, improving life for your residents, caregivers, and corporate objectives (costs and outcomes).