California Nursing Home Abuse: Bedsores

Written by Adam Peck Category: Bed Sores January 26th, 2013 2 min read

Every year, pressure ulcers affect more than one million acute care and nursing facility patients. Lawsuits over pressure ulcers are becoming increasingly common in both settings, with claims per occupied bed increasing at an annual rate of 14 percent and the average court settlement rising to more than $250,000.

Pressure Ulcers are Painful, Difficult to Treat, and Expensive

In addition to the bottom line implications — Medicare data estimates the average cost associated with pressure ulcer treatment is over $40,000 — a pressure ulcer-related lawsuit can do severe damage to a facility’s reputation for providing quality patient care, devastating staff morale and turning clients away.

The interrelationship between medical decision-making, reimbursement, and legal issues relating to pressure ulcers has never been greater and the medical-legal landscape itself has never been more treacherous.

The items that need to be implemented to stop this terrible painful neglectful care are:

Assessing the Legal Implications of Healthcare Facility “Policies and
Procedures”
Assessing Compliance with Prescribing Rules
Changing and Practicing within Scope of Practice
Managing Expectations and Communicating Carefully
Clinical Documentation
Preventability: Avoidable, Unavoidable, Preventable or Never Events?
Education: The Need for Learning Never Ends
Preventive Clinical Care

More About Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, occur in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities as a result of multiple internal and external factors, including unrelieved pressure on the skin. The lack of blood flow to an area of the skin may first be noticed as a change in color such as red in light skin or darker brown or black in darkly pigmented persons or irritated skin. Areas of deep tissue death may not be readily visible until they result in large open wounds.

WATCH, WATCH, WATCH!!!

When the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers comes under legal scrutiny, it is often alleged as negligence and / or complete unadulterated neglect.

Watch and make sure your loved elder is receiving the treatment they have bargained for. Should they be bedridden or confined to a wheelchair, make sure they are re-positioned daily. if not, the elder will sustain a bedsore. Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, pressure sores or decubitus ulcers can be very very painful.

If you think your loved one is being neglected or mistreated, contact Steven Peck’s Premier Legal toll at 1-866-999-9085 free to talk to an experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorney.

Share it

Questions? Check with Peck Today

Blog Lead Form

Elder Abuse and Neglect in Assisted Living Facilities

Elopement in Nursing Homes

Assisted Living Abuse

Settlement Reached in Assisted Living Facility Death

Assisted Living Abuse and Neglect Attorneys

Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.