Tips for Preventing Pressure Ulceration

Risk Assessment:

Risk assessment tools, such as the Waterlow and Braden scales act as a prompt enabling clinicians to recognize any risk of pressure ulcer development. They encompass a range of factors known to influence the development of pressure ulcers, such as those mentioned above.

All patients should have a pressure ulcer risk assessment undertaken within six hours of admission into an acute area, such as a skilled nursing facility or a long term care hospital and this should be regularly reviewed throughout their stay. This will aid identification of individuals with an increased risk of pressure ulceration at the earliest stage.

It is vital that structured and clearly documented risk assessment is undertaken to ensure that risk factors are recognized and acted upon in an appropriate and timely fashion.

– from Steven Peck, Senior Attorney at Peck Law Group

About the Author

Attorney Steven Peck has been practicing law since 1981. A former successful business owner, Mr. Peck initially focused his legal career on business law. Within the first three years, after some colleagues and friend’s parents endured nursing home neglect and elder abuse, he continued his education to begin practicing elder law and nursing home abuse law.