Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers) Should Never Occur Says the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
As Memphis nursing home abuse attorneys, one of the most common injuries we see to patients is bedsores. The more appropriate term for bedsore is pressure ulcer, because they occur when a patient is allowed to sit or lay in one position too long. When a patient is not repositioned frequently enough, pressure decreases blood flow to the skin and tissue below the skin. Eventually the skin breaks down.
Bedsores most often develop on bony parts of the body where there is little fat to protect the area, such as heels, tailbone, spine, and elbows. The risk of bedsores is high for people who cannot reposition themselves and must be moved by hospital or nursing home staff. Bedsores, once allowed to occur, can be difficult and costly to treat, not to mention extremely painful and stressful for the patient. Bedsores can lead to sepsis, a dangerous and often deadly blood infection. Although bedsores can develop very quickly and can lead to major health problems, they are easy to prevent.
So easy in fact that in 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted a new policy to stop reimbursing hospitals and doctors for medical care needed to treat bedsores. Medicare now refers to bedsores as “never events” because they should never happen.
If a loved one develops bedsores while in the hospital or nursing home, contact one of our Memphis nursing home neglect attorneys today for a free consultation. We have a registered nurse on staff to help answer all of you questions. Call us at 901-680-9777.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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