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Pressure ulcer survey could save hospitals millions

Case Management Weekly, September 18, 2007

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Hill-Rom, Hillenbrand Industries' healthcare unit, recently released the results of its 10th Annual International Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Survey (IPUPS) revealing how the implementation of comprehensive prevention programs could cut incidence rates of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers by half. Hot on the heels of the new CMS ruling on modified reimbursement rates for pressure ulcers, reducing occurrences of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers has the potential to save hospitals millions of dollars.

Hill-Rom estimates that more than 900,000 Medicare patients will develop pressure ulcers each year, and despite the adoption of prevention programs by most hospitals, the study claims that more than 75% of high-risk patients still do not receive such care. Since the annual cost of treating hospital-acquired pressure ulcers could be as high as $10 billion and as of October 1, 2008, CMS will no longer reimburse hospitals for that treatment, pressure ulcer treatment programs could be an excellent money saving solution.

Source: PRNewswire

Other articles of interest:
Five reasons why pressure ulcers occur
NJHA collaborative reports success against pressure ulcers

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