Quality of Care for Hospitalized Medicare Patients at Risk for Pressure Ulcers

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Abstract
PRESSURE ULCERS continue to present a major health problem for hospitalized older adults. Prevalence rates have ranged from 3.0% to 15.0% for those in acute care hospitals.1 The elderly account for approximately 70.0% of all pressure ulcers.2 When age is coupled with additional risk factors, the incidence of pressure ulcers significantly increases.3 Although the average cost to heal a pressure ulcer is relatively low (ranging from $5000 to $70 000, depending on the stage of pressure ulcer) compared with that for other health conditions, it is conservatively estimated that the total national cost for treating pressure ulcers is $1.3 billion annually and rising.4