Pressure Ulcer News and Research

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Pressure ulcers are commonly called bed sores or pressure sores. They are skin lesions that may also affect underlying tissues and are caused when the skin or the tissues are put under repeated and regular pressure or stress.

Quality of care in for-profit nursing homes 'predictably appalling'

Today, Brian Lee, Executive Director of Families for Better Care, called the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) findings related to the quality of care in for-profit nursing homes acquired by private investment firms "predictably appalling."

26 Aug 2011

HRS, KGH reduce bed rental expenditures by 83%

Leveraging their membership with Amerinet affiliate Health Resource Services (HRS), Kennewick General Hospital (KGH), a 101-bed acute care facility in southeastern Washington state, decreased its bed rental expenditures by 83 percent, and positively impacted quality patient care through the economical acquisition of Hill-Rom critical care and bariatric beds.

23 Aug 2011

Pressure-reduction mattresses could help hospitals reduce health care costs

Hospitals could reduce health care costs arising from pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores, by investing in pressure-reduction mattresses for elderly patients in emergency departments, according to new research from the University of Toronto.

18 Aug 2011

First round of financing could make the intelligent bed a reality

At the end of May 2011, two "business angels" and a banking institute invested one million Swiss francs in Michael Sauter's company -compliant concept-. The successful end to this first round of financing is a milestone for the mechanical engineer and young entrepreneur. "This means that the intelligent bed can now become a reality," he says, joyfully.

15 Jul 2011

New initiatives to improve quality of care and lower costs for Medicaid

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced three new initiatives to help states improve the quality and lower the cost of care for the approximately nine million Americans who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

11 Jul 2011

EarlySense's new WiFi patient monitoring system receives FDA clearance and CE approval

EarlySense, which is currently bringing to market the most advanced, contact-free, patient monitoring solution for hospitals and nursing homes, announced today that it has received FDA clearance and CE approval for the new wireless (WiFi) communications component of its solution.

13 Jun 2011

New bariatric bed

Twenty-percent of the adult U.S. population is obese, including approximately five percent that are considered morbidly obese. The direct health issues, related complications and safety challenges affecting this population are far reaching and well documented. VitalGo, Inc., a provider of advanced technology-based solutions for medical staff safety, patient safety and home care, has announced the immediate availability of the new bariatric version of its Total Lift Bed™ (TLB) which addresses a wide variety of care, treatment and safety issues for patients weighing up to 1,000 lbs.

9 Jun 2011

LWW sponsors 26th Annual Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin & Wound Care

The 26th Annual Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin & Wound Care: The Conference for Prevention and Healing will be held September 9-12, 2011, at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD.

7 Jun 2011

News highlights: Study finds reform didn't slow ER visits in Mass.; 2 ACOs take shape in Calif.; Md. hospitals report problems

Health care reform in Massachusetts only had a small impact on the number of trips residents took to the emergency room, according to a new study.

4 Jun 2011

Medicaid no longer paying for hospital mistakes

Left a sponge inside the patient? Transfused the wrong blood type? Don't look for the federal government to pay for fixing the mistake. Medicaid will no longer pay hospitals or doctors for certain preventable illnesses and injuries, such as operating on the wrong body part, the Health and Human Services Department said Wednesday.

3 Jun 2011

First fully integrated wireless monitoring kit for post-surgery applications compatible with NFC cell phones

GENTAG, Inc., Third Technology Capital Investors, and The CORE Institute are pleased to announce the first fully integrated medical grade wireless monitoring kit for post-surgery applications compatible with the new generation of Near Field Communications (NFC) cell phones. The kit allows patients to self-monitor for excessive swelling in the surgery area or inside casts with their cell phones after hospital discharge (compartment syndrome monitoring).

17 May 2011

NTC, Aldevron partner to manufacture first plasmid DNA-based genetic cosmetic

Nature Technology Corporation "NTC" and Aldevron today announced a joint effort to manufacture the world's first plasmid DNA-based genetic cosmetic for Gene Facelift.

11 May 2011

MHA's annual awards recognize outstanding health care leaders, innovative programs

Innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health care were honored Friday, May 6 at the Minnesota Hospital Association's 27th annual awards ceremony at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Minneapolis.

10 May 2011

AACN to recognize Elizabeth Bridges with Flame of Excellence Award

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses will present the Flame of Excellence Award to Elizabeth Bridges, RN, PhD, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN — colonel, U.S. Air Force Reserves, associate professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing and a clinical nurse researcher at the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle.

30 Apr 2011

HHS unveils new national patient safety initiative

Health and Human Services Regional Director Marguerite Salazar unveiled today a new national patient safety initiative, Partnership for Patients, on behalf of the Obama Administration at The Children's Hospital. Partnership for Patients will help save 60,000 lives across the country by stopping millions of preventable injuries and complications in patient care over the next three years.

22 Apr 2011

Obama’s next target - medical error reduction for patient safety

Finally serious efforts are being made to ensure patient safety. The Obama administration announced this Tuesday an aggressive approach called ‘The 'Partnership for Patients Program’ to reduce medical errors, partnering with private insurers, business leaders, hospitals and patient advocates to tackle a problem that kills thousands of Americans every year.

12 Apr 2011

Patient safety in hospitals draws attention

Over strong objections from the hospital industry, the government has published data about things that can go wrong in hospitals — falls, objects left behind during surgeries, bloodstream or urinary infections associated with catheters, incompatible blood infusions, serious bed sores and more.

12 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 11, 2011

In today's headlines, as details emerge regarding the last-minute budget deal for current-year spending, President Barak Obama is poised to lay out a new long-term budget vision which will include everything from Medicare and Medicaid to tax hikes for the wealthy.

11 Apr 2011

Research Roundup: The cost of medical errors; 'Unreasonable rate increases'

Health Affairs: The $17.1 Billion Problem: The Annual Cost Of Measurable Medical Errors - "The estimated total cost of measurable medical errors in the United States was $17.1 billion in 2008, which was 0.72 percent of the $2.391 trillion spent on health care," write the authors of this study that used an "an actuarial approach to measure the frequency and costs of measurable U.S. medical errors, identified through medical claims data."

8 Apr 2011

Survivors of severe critical illness requiring intensive care do not regain physical or psychological health

A unique and richly detailed long-term study of survivors of severe critical illness requiring intensive care found that even those who were previously healthy, young and working did not regain the physical or psychological health they had before their illness.

8 Apr 2011