When Joy Lombardo stepped into her role as Assistant Director of Nursing Care and skin/wound lead at The Village of Aspen Lake in early 2022, there were a number of residents that were living with complex skin health challenges, cases so chronic that healing seemed unlikely.
“These were wounds that I thought would never resolve,” she recalls. “Stage four, or unstageable… we were just maintaining.”
But with the help and guidance of Clinical Specialist Kim Arquette, who supports all Schlegel Villages as a lead in skin health, Joy and the team began revisiting simple, consistent practices that could support comfort and healing. One tool stood out: the repositioning clock – a printed visual above the bed showing when and how to reposition a resident.
It was not new; in fact, years ago, Aspen Lake often used the clocks in the rooms of residents at risk. They eventually disappeared as needs and priorities shifted, but with chronic wounds persisting, Joy, Kim, and their quality and innovation partners saw an opportunity to bring them back with renewed purpose.
In May, the team selected a group of residents at highest risk and reintroduced the clocks. The early challenge was ensuring team member buy-in. Joy wondered whether busy team members would embrace the added structure, and thankfully they did.
“Now they’re asking for it,” she says. “The visual keeps it consistent across shifts.”
PSWs, nurses, housekeepers all use the clock, and audits show close alignment between documentation and practice. Most importantly, outcomes changed dramatically.
Two residents with long-standing chronic wounds are now “practically resolved,” Joy says, and five others have healed fully. No new breakdowns have occurred. Residents report greater comfort and their families, who were understandably worried, now express relief and gratitude.
The success at Aspen Lake is not an isolated story but a continuation of the work sparked in 2022, when Innovation Catalysts across Schlegel Villages chose to focus their collaborative energy on skin health and wound prevention.
That year marked the first Innovation Summit with a singular focus on one complex issue. Catalysts interviewed residents, families and team members, uncovering gaps in awareness and education. Their design-thinking approach emphasized small, practical improvements that anyone could help implement.
“Preventative education is as important for families as it is for team members,” catalyst Victoria Leger noted at the time.
Ideas like consistent skin assessments, improved communication, and repositioning practices circulated across Villages. The seeds planted through that collaborative effort helped shape the culture Joy stepped into at Aspen Lake, where hands-on care providers understand their role in prevention and feel empowered to act.
“Part of Aspen’s success is the result of the team’s shared commitment and passion in working together to improve the quality of care for our residents,” Kim says, reflecting on the results the team has seen over the past months. “Dedication, passion and innovation have been part of Aspen’s recipe for success, and I am proud of the progress they continue to make.”
For Joy, the most meaningful part is showing the team what their work has accomplished.
“It feels nice to see the change,” she says. “Especially when you didn’t think healing was possible.”
Click here to read about the previous work of the Innovation Catalysts related to Skin Health.
