Liability is a major issue when it comes to pressure ulcers, especially in nursing homes. As caregivers know, it is very difficult for a family to watch a loved one suffer. Sometimes when a loved passes, the family will turn the blame on the caregivers. This has the potential to lead to legal problems that can cost time, money, and reputations.
There is even a non-profit advocacy group called the Long Term Care Community Coalition that conducts federal inspections of nursing homes. The most common problem? Bed sores. Specifically, staff not taking the proper measures to prevent bed sores– or at least not being able to prove they performed all of the proper measures. [1]
In some cases, pressure ulcers are not preventable. In all cases, proper preventative measures can be documented in order to avoid any liability. One software-based prevention solution, WoundRounds, makes it easy to for staff to assess and track patient risk, identify the hot spots for each patient, and efficiently deliver preventive interventions appropriate for each patient. For more information on how to effectively prevent and manage pressure ulcers, visit woundrounds.com.
Levin & Perconti. “Nursing Home Fined For Failing To Prevent Bed Sores”. Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog. Web. 06 December 2012.
