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Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment

 

Overview

Pressure ulcers are preventable in almost every case, yet an estimated 60,000 people die each year from complications of pressure ulcers and 2.5 million seek treatment in an acute care facility, according to the Joint Commission. The estimated cost of managing a single full-thickness pressure ulcer is as high as $70,000, and the total cost for treatment of pressure ulcers in the U.S. is estimated at $11 billion per year. (Reddy M, Gill SS, Rochon PA. Preventing pressure ulcers: A systematic review. JAMA. 2006; 296: 974-984.)

As part of their work for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, AFMC and other quality improvement organizations across the country are working to help nursing homes and hospitals reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers and improve treatment. AFMC is working with hospitals and nursing homes across the state to help them achieve at least an 8 percent relative improvement rate in:

  • High-risk long-stay residents who have pressure ulcers (for nursing homes; based on Minimum Data Set)
  • Patients with hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (based on Medicare claims data)

Essential elements of pressure ulcer prevention and care include:

  • Conducting a pressure ulcer assessment on admission
  • Use of a valid and reliable pressure ulcer risk assessment instrument such as the Braden Scale
  • Daily skin inspections
  • Improving collaboration between hospitals and nursing homes

AFMC has worked for years to help educate nursing home staff members on pressure ulcer prevention techniques, and has received requests from more than 15 other states to share our proven approaches, which emphasize training for unlicensed staff members. We offer free brochures, posters and other tools to educate staff members about pressure ulcer prevention. For more information about how AFMC can help your facility, contact us. 

Pressure Ulcer Resources

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