Pressure Sores are on the Rise: You Absolutely Need a Patient Advocate

Posted on June 7, 2022

While speaking with prospective clients during a consultation appointment, last week, something unusual happened. Two families, from different regions of the country, each expressed concern (rightfully so) about their loved one’s having pressure ulcers, in addition to other ailments.

By: CarolAnne Dube

While speaking with prospective clients during a consultation appointment, last week, something unusual happened. Two families, from different regions of the country, each expressed concern (rightfully so) about their loved one’s having pressure ulcers, in addition to other ailments.

My first and long-lasting impression with pressure sores or ulcers was as a student nurse, training in a large Pittsburg, PA medical center, in the late 1970’s. What I witnessed there was concerning and of grave concern. Of the many patients I cared for during those two years, 11 patients had pressure ulcers.

They were elderly with limited mobility, the result of a stroke, diabetes or heart disease. Most were bedridden. Others were unable to sense pain or were malnourished. What left a lasting impression was the degree of discomfort and often pain they experienced. I was also concerned about their increased risk for infection.

Most unsettling however was in knowing, these types of wounds, also known as bed sores or decubitus ulcers, are preventable.

They occur as a result of diminished blood flow to areas of the skin and underlying soft tissue. Most prominently, pressure sores occur over bony areas of the body such as hips, heels, shoulder blades, back of the head, backs and sides of the knees and tail bone or coccyx.

Bed sores are significant problems in hospitals, including intensive care units, rehabilitation units and long-term facilities.

These wounds take a while to heal, resulting in increased health care utilization for both the patient and the hospital or long-term facility. As would be expected, patients experience a diminished quality of life as a result of pain and the risk for infection.

With the occurrence of pressure sores seemingly on the rise, this is yet another area in which patient advocacy is of importance. Action items include:

1. Make sure the patient’s health history (certain chronic conditions put patients at risk) to proactively determine the possibility of occurrence during a hospital, rehabilitation facility or nursing home stay.

2. Family members should be on alert and present at the bedside to advocate for their loved one who may not be able to.

3. Utilize the services of a professional patient advocate who has clinical familiarity and experience to assess the appropriateness of care with of these types of wounds, advocate on the patient’s behalf navigating through our complex - often confusing health care system to and confidence to oversee responsive and effective patient care to promptly resolve issues.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to schedule a complementary 30-minute consultation today. Visit Appointments - Patient Advocates of SW Florida: www.patientadocatesofswfl.com