Meet Esther Koziol, Covenant Partner and volunteer with the Pressure Injury Prevention program

When Esther Koziol hung up her nurse’s scrubs after a decades-long career in health care, she was looking forward to a leisurely retirement. As it turns out, old habits die hard, and she soon found herself applying for a volunteer role at the Misericordia Community Hospital.

“The Misericordia was in my backyard, so I started volunteering. I have volunteered in many areas (at the Misericordia), and I thoroughly enjoy it,” Esther says. “I’ve always been connected and passionate about health care, so it was a natural transition for me.”

Esther is currently a Covenant Partner with Covenant Health’s Patient/Resident and Family Engagement program, where she is using her experience and understanding of the complexities of patient care in pressure injury prevention ― a cause close to her heart. Pressure injuries, known more commonly as bed sores, occur when skin and underlying tissues are damaged by constant pressure from contact with external surfaces. These injuries can happen when a patient has been lying in a bed, sitting in a wheelchair or wearing a cast for a prolonged period of time. Though pressure injuries are quite painful, they can be prevented through awareness, education and early intervention.

Esther says her volunteer work is driven by a simple yet profound belief that knowledge can prevent suffering. In her experience, she's seen the gaps in care that can lead to severe pressure injuries in patients being cared for at home. The primary issue is a lack of knowledge, not a lack of love, she says.

“From both my hospital and long-term care experience, I have seen people who come in with terrible pressure injuries, down to the bone. Families mean well. They love to have their loved ones at home, but they are simply not aware of pressure injuries.”

To support education and awareness, Esther has helped the Pressure Injury Prevention program create resources for staff, patients and families. She has also been involved in planning activities and strategies for STOP Pressure Injury Day, an education and awareness day held annually throughout Covenant Health on the third Thursday in November.

Despite advances in raising awareness of pressure injury prevention, Esther says there is some work to do yet.

“Involving the family early on in care is key,” Esther says. “It’s crucial to raise awareness because these injuries are quite painful, hard to heal from and very preventable.”

Learn more about pressure injuries and how to prevent them.