Smith+Nephew Introduces Breakthrough LEAF Patient Monitoring System for Advanced Pressure Injury Prevention

Smith+Nephew has introduced the next-generation LEAF Patient Monitoring System in the United States, expanding its pressure injury prevention platform to help healthcare providers reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries. 

The updated system uses a wearable sensor to monitor patient movement and provide real-time turning status, helping clinical teams improve workflow efficiency, patient repositioning quality and adherence to care protocols.

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries remain a significant challenge across the US, contributing to around 60,000 deaths annually and placing an estimated annual economic burden of $26.8 billion on the healthcare system. 

Staff shortages, increasing workloads and inconsistent access to patient data continue to affect the delivery of timely preventive care.

The cloud-hosted platform features a redesigned user interface developed with input from multidisciplinary nursing teams. It integrates with hospital electronic medical records, enabling clinicians to identify at-risk patients, monitor turning schedules and access real-time reports through approved hospital devices.

The system also provides automated documentation and hospital-wide performance insights to support patient management and improve care quality. 

According to Smith+Nephew, the LEAF system monitors more than 150,000 patients each year, has been associated with up to a 73% reduction in the likelihood of pressure injuries, and has helped some healthcare facilities achieve substantial cost savings through improved patient outcomes.