Nursing Homes Abuse Blog - By Jonathan Rosenfeld

Contrary to what some medical facilities suggest, the development of pressure sores during an admission to a facility is not an inevitable part of getting older or something that simply coincides with some medical conditions.  Rather, pressure sores are overwhelmingly the result of inattentive care on the part of the facility.

After all, the prevention of pressure sores is not rocket science!  

Basic preventative measures implemented by nursing homes, hospital and other types of long-term care facilities can significantly reduce the incidence of pressure sores.  Well-known preventative measures include:

• Turning patients at regular intervals
• Keeping patients clean and dry
• Ensuring patients are kept well nourished and hydrated
• Utilizing the latest advancements in pressure reduction technologies-- cushions, mattresses ect.

Particularly in patients who may already be disabled or elderly, the development of pressure sores is an especially cruel complication that can cause pain, disability and significantly increase the chances of patients acquiring complex complications such as: sepsis, gangrene or osteomyelitis.

With years of experience representing patients and families in cases involving the development of pressure sores at medical facilities and other types of institutions, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers understands the troubling issues as they weigh on the individual and family.  

Should the need arise to seek legal recourse in relation to the development of pressure sores, we invite you to review our expanded Pressure Sore Injury section to our firm website with pages devoted to: Pressure Sores in Nursing Homes, Pressure Sores in Hospitals, Pressure Sores in Assisted Living Facilities, Stages Of Pressure Sores and information on frequent complications such as: Sepsis, Osteomyelitis, Gangrene, Necrotizing Fasciitis and Death.

When nursing homes take simple, preventative steps such as: turning patients, keeping them clean, and providing adequate nutrition and hydration; they can greatly decrease the incidence of pressure sores at their facilities.  However, even though the preventative steps are well known, many nursing facilities simply fail to implement the necessary care that patients require to function optimally.

I was particularly disturbed when I came across an article in the Arizona Daily Star regarding a Kindred-owned nursing home that has been repeatedly failed to provide sufficient wound care for its patients.  In fact, Villa Campana Health Care Center was most recently fined by state authorities $10,000 following a horrific chain of events involving a patient who was admitted to the facility last fall.

Within a month of entering Villa Campana, a patient developed a pressure sore on their buttocks.  Despite the staff's documentation of the wound, little care was provided at the wound progressed to the point that bone was involved and an infection known as osteomyelitis ensued.  Eventually, the patient required multiple surgeries to treat the advanced pressure sore including a debridement surgery to remove portions of the coccyx, sacrum and surrounding tissue.

The most recent fine follows other violations at the facility including:

• A 28 day suspension on new admissions to the facility implemented by Medicare
• In September, 2009 the facility was fined $68,000 for non-compliance with applicable regulations
• In December, 2009 Arizona officials fined Villa Campana $11,525 for the violation of 33 state rules pertaining to the monitoring and treatment of patients' pressure sores

Government officials have picked up on Villa Compana's deficiencies and have categorized the facility in the one-star category-- the lowest rating according to Medicare's, Nursing Home Compare site.  Similarly, the Arizona Department of Health Rates Villa Campana as 'D' in quality-- the state lowest rating for nursing homes.

Certainly, the fact that this Kindred facility has such an extensive history regarding the inadequate prevention of patient's pressure sores should give rise for concern.  Pressure sores and osteomyelitis are prime examples of nursing home negligence and commonly give rise to lawsuits against the facility where the wound developed.  A lawsuit for the development of a pressure sore can recover damages for medical expenses and the pain that accompany the wounds.

Related Nursing Homes Abuse Blog Entries:

Arizona Nursing Home Fined For Multiple Safety Violations

Lawsuit Alleges: One Week In The Nursing Home Results In Significant Deterioration Of Pressure Sores & Sepsis

$5 Million In Punitive Damages Awarded To Widow In Bed Sore Case Against Nursing Home & Hospital

Bed Sore FAQ

By the time a pressure ulcer has progressed to Stage 4, the wound is deep the muscle and bone in the area is involved--usually decayed.   Frequently, infection can develop in the dead tissue impeding the healing process.

Advanced stage pressure ulcers need to be free of dead or damaged tissue in order to heal. Even with the most attentive medical care, some pressure ulcer's require surgical intervention.  Surgical Debridement is when a surgeon uses a scalpel to remove the dead tissue, bone and fluid from the area around the pressure ulcer. 

Debridement of the pressure ulcer may be accompanied by 'flap reconstruction'.  Flap reconstruction is when tissue is harvested from the persons body to cover the open wound.  The goal of the reconstruction is to improve the hygiene and appearance of the wound and and reducing the risk of further infection.

Surgical treatment of pressure ulcers has one of the highest complication rate of any surgical procedure.  Recovery from the procedure is time intensive and painful.  Therefore, the use of surgical intervention to treat pressure ulcers is usually considered to be a last resort.

Pressure ulcers are preventable.  If your loved one has developed a pressure ulcer while a resident of a nursing home, hospital or assisted living facility, contact the the team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers.  We can  help determine what parties may be at fault and advise you of your rights.

Resources For Pressure Ulcer Treatment

Emedicine: Pressure Ulcers, Surgical Treatment and Principles

Mayo Clinic: Bedsores. Treatments and Drugs

Related Bed Sore FAQ Entries:

What is mechanical debridement of bed sores?

What is chemical debridement of bed sores?

What is biological debridement of bed sores?

What is surgical debridement of bed sores?