Author Archives: Adam Peck

The number of hospital patients with pressure sores, also called decubitus ulcers or bed sores, rose from 480,000 cases in 2007 to 655,000 cases in 2010 a substantial increase says California Elder Abuse Lawyer Steven Peck of the Peck Law Group.

Pressure sores typically result from prolonged periods of uninterrupted pressure on the skin, soft tissue, muscle, and bone. Vulnerable patients include the elderly, stroke victims, patients with diabetes, those with dementia, and people who use wheelchairs or are bedridden any patient with impaired mobility or sensation.

Patients aged 65 and older accounted for 72% of all hospitalizations during which pressure sores were noted. About 19% of such stays were for patients 45 to 64 years of age.

On average, patients admitted to hospitals primarily for treatment of pressure sores stayed nearly 13 days. But length of stay varied by age patients aged 18 to 44 accounted for the longest average stay (14 days), and those aged 85 and older had the shortest stays (10 days).

Nearly 9 of every 10 hospital stays involving pressure ulcers were covered by government health programs 66% by Medicare and 23% by state Medicaid programs.

Hospital charges for stays principally for treatment of pressure ulcers averaged $37,800, but average charges varied by payer, for example, the average charge to Medicaid was $39,100 while the average bill to the uninsured was $25,600.

The 10 most common principal reasons for hospitalizations during which it was noted that patients also had pressure sores were septicemia; pneumonia; urinary tract infections; aspiration pneumonitis; congestive heart failure; rehabilitation care; fluid and electrolyte disorders; complication of device, implant, or graft; respiratory failure; and diabetes mellitus with complications.

What are pressure sores?

Pressure sores, Bed Sores and Decubitus Ulcers are areas of injured skin and tissue. They are usually caused by sitting or lying in one position for too long. This puts pressure on certain areas of the body. The pressure can reduce the blood supply to the skin and the tissues under the skin. When a change in position doesn’t occur often enough and the blood supply gets too low, a sore may form. Pressure sores are also called bedsores, pressure ulcers and decubitus ulcers.

What are the symptoms of a pressure sore?

There are 4 stages of pressure sores. Symptoms at each stage include the following:

• Stage 1. The affected skin looks red and may feel warm to the touch. The area may also burn, hurt or itch. In people who have dark skin, the pressure sore may have a blue or purple tint.
• Stage 2. The affected skin is more damaged in a stage 2 pressure sore, which can result in an open sore that looks like an abrasion or a blister. The skin around the wound may discolored. The area is very painful.
• Stage 3. These types of pressure sores usually have a crater-like appearance due to increased damage to the tissue below the skin’s surface. This makes the wound deeper.
• Stage 4. This is most serious type of pressure sore. The skin and tissue is severely damaged, causing a large wound. Infection can occur at this stage. Muscles, bones, tendons and joints can be affected by stage 4 pressure sores.

Who gets pressure sores?

Anyone who sits or lies in one position for a long time might get pressure sores. You are more likely to get pressure sores if you are paralyzed, use a wheelchair or spend most of your time in bed.

However, even people who are able to walk can develop pressure sores when they must stay in bed because of an illness or an injury. Some chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hardening of the arteries, make it hard for pressure sores to heal because of poor blood circulation.