The high incidence of pressure ulcer development in surgical patients puts the onus on perioperative nurses to be proactive in risk assessment and use of preventive measures. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that each pressure ulcer adds more than $43,000 in costs to a hospital stay,…
Each year, 2.5 million people in the US develop pressure ulcers, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Surgical patients are at especially high risk because of immobility during long procedures and anesthesia that blocks sensitivity to pain and pressure. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid estimates…
New data from Minnesota hospitals offers more insight into preventing pressure ulcers during long surgical procedures. Data collected through the state's adverse event reporting system in 2009 found 13% of the 122 Stage 3, Stage 4, and unstageable pressure ulcers reported were related to long surgical procedures. Attention to this…