Promoting Pressure Ulcer Prevention through Cost-Saving Benefits

Healthcare facilities are currently revising current policies to reduce spending due to cutbacks from current CMS reimbursement and other economic factors.  Pressure ulcer prevention programs are being impacted by these new policies.  Frequently support surface spending is targeted as a method of cost-containment. The reduction in the availability of specialty support surfaces can lead to increased pressure ulcer incidence.                                                                                                          The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the use of support surfaces can actually reduce the cost of patient (resident) care, help in the prevention of pressure ulcers and ultimately result in a decrease in hospital acquired pressure ulcers and a cost-savings benefit to the facility.                                                                   The objectives of this project were: 1) the establishment of algorithms for proper support surface selection; 2) monitoring of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers; 3) recording of cost involved with support surface rentals; and, 4) cost savings estimate based on reduction of pressure ulcers in the facility patient population.             Study was conducted at a medical center in western Pennsylvania. Past history of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers was reviewed and documented.  Support surface selection algorithms were reviewed and updated.  Data was collected which indicated a reduction in hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. The cost of pressure ulcer treatment was based on reported cost. Cost-savings was estimated by comparing cost of care and cost of equipment.                                                                             Although support surface selection and use are not the only components of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol, results associated with proper support surface selection and use demonstrated a cost-savings for the facilities.                                                                                                                                                              As we continue to monitor the cost of pressure ulcer prevention and care, we must become aware of the impact we can have on cost- containment and cost-savings based on recording of hospital-acquired pressure ulcer incidence and careful selection and use of specialty support surfaces.