Estimated Reduction In Expenditure On Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries After An Intervention For Early Identification And Treatment

AIM: An intervention designed to reduce numbers of hospital-acquired pressure injuries was delivered in Counties Manukau Health hospitals. An audit of a sample of patients was carried out to estimate the cost savings that would have been acquired across the district health board (DHB) due to a reduction in pressure injuries.METHOD: The pressure injury intervention was delivered from 2011 to 2015. A monthly prospective audit of patients with stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 pressure injuries was carried out. This involved a random sample of five patients per ward in all hospitals in Counties Manukau DHB.RESULTS: It was found that the annual estimated cost of treating pressure injuries in hospital patients was NZ$12,290,484 less in 2015 than in 2011.CONCLUSION: Implementation of strategies for managing hospital-acquired pressure injuries can lead to potentially large financial savings for hospitals, as well as reducing the burden of managing this difiicult condition for patients and staff.