By Nursing Home Law Center
Hospital-acquired bedsores are a major concern in today’s health care industry. This is because bedsores (pressure sores; pressure ulcers; decubitus ulcers) can be easily prevented through proven nursing practices and protocols. In 2008, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) changed their policy of paying the exorbitant expense incurred in treating a hospital-acquired bedsore, which is a cost that now must be absorbed by the facility instead of Medicare. As a result, many hospitals and skilled nursing facilities have begun using pressure relief mattresses as an effective solution to reduce the development of a bedsore.
Pressure relief mattresses can prevent hospital-acquired decubitus ulcers through dispersing skin-damaging pressure from the body’s bony protrusions. Most bed pad systems and pressure relief mattresses disperse the pressure by providing alternating pressure through air chambers to other areas of the body.
Bedsores refer to ulcerated skin and underlying tissue that is damaged by continuous pressure and irritation on some part of the body. The pressure sore commonly develops on bony prominences where bone is close to the surface of the skin such as on the hips, heels, ankles, toes, feet, sacrum, shoulders, shoulder blades and the back of the head. The compression to underlying tissue and skin can cause damage to blood vessels. However, friction can also form bedsores where the rubbing of skin, such as dragging a body part across the surface of the bed or wheelchair can produce significant damage that develops into an open wound.
Typically, mobility-challenged patients are most susceptible to developing pressure ulcers, especially if the individual spends long periods sitting in a wheelchair or lying in bed. The potential of developing a bedsore is intensified if the patient suffers from various maladies and medical conditions including:
Bedsores look quite different from one another depending on the severity of the condition. However, medical staff categorizes pressure sores in four different stages including:
Stage I – The skin appears permanently reddened without being broken. It can feel slightly swollen, hard or warm.
Stage II – The bedsore displays an abrasion or blister.
Stage III – The sore has damaged the skin’s full thickness with minimal damage to underlying skin tissue.
Stage IV – This life-threatening pressure sore is deep, exposing significant damage to bone, muscle and ligaments underneath.
To minimize the potential of developing a facility-acquired bedsore, nursing staff must follow best practices to prevent the condition. This includes assessing the patients at risk of developing a bedsore, which is usually performed by qualified healthcare professional. This assessment must be routinely reviewed because the patient’s situation can change. Protocols to minimize the development of a pressure sore include:
An untreated decubitus ulcer can easily become infected and spread to the bone (osteomyelitis) or to blood (blood poisoning or septicemia).
If you, or your loved one, have developed a facility-acquired bedsore while in a skilled nursing home or hospital, you might be entitled to receive financial compensation for your damages. Nursing Home Law Center LLC at (800) 926-7565 can provide numerous legal solutions to hold those responsible for causing your harm financially accountable. We accept medical malpractice and hospital negligence cases on contingency.
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