Bed Sores – Neglect in Nursing Homes, Rehab Hospitals & Long Term Care Facilities in Pennsylvania

Bed Sore Stages

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel divides bed sores into 4 stages, with 2 additional stages (added in 2007).

Stage 1: The area is red, blue or purple, depending on the patient’s skin color. The area is also warm and often accompanied by burning, itching or pain.

Stage 2: The area of discoloration becomes larger, irritated and may have a sore or blister.

Stage 3: The area develops a crater or hole due to damage under the skin.

Stage 4: The entire area is damaged, and a larger wound appears. At this stage, the sore has usually progressed to the muscles, tendons, bones and joints. Infection risk is highest in this stage.

Suspected deep-tissue injury: Localized purple or dark red discoloration or involvement of a blood blister. The wound may quickly become a stage 3 or 4 bed sore, even with proper treatment.

Unstageable: Loss of tissue that can’t be staged because of the presence of necrotic/dead tissue which prevents proper identification.

Pennsylvania Bed Sore Reporting

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers are reportable events under Pennsylvania law, specifically, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act, and over the last decade, these infections have remained a serious issue in Pennsylvania hospitals and medical facilities. In 2013, medical facilities in Pennsylvania reported over 30,000 skin related events (56% were bed sores) to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority.

The national trend mirrors Pennsylvania’s. According to a 2020 study published in the International Journal of Preventative Medicine, The Incidence of Pressure Ulcers and its Associations in Different Wards of the Hospital: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, there are about 2.5 million hospitalizations in the United States due to bed sores, with a frequency of bed sores between 8% and 40%, depending on the medical care setting.

In addition, the study found that stages 1 and 2 have an incidence rate of 45%, and stages 3 and 4 have an incidence rate of 4%. The study also found that in hospital settings, the highest incidence of bed sores occurred among orthopedic surgery patients followed by cancer patients.

Negligence & Bed Sores in Pennsylvania Nursing Homes, Rehab Hospitals & Facilities

Bed sores are 100% preventable and occur due to negligence on the part of the medical facility, such as lack of proper training, understaffing or failure in adherence to policies.

For example, a patient who has undergone serious back surgery is immobilized for several days, recovering in a rehab hospital outside of Philadelphia. The facility is understaffed, and nursing assistants are poorly trained in the protocols for preventing bed sores. As a result, the patient develops a bed sore that becomes infected, leading to septic shock. A day later, the patient dies from the infection.

Compensation Claims in Bed Sore Injury Cases

When a nursing home resident or patient in a rehab facility develops a serious bed sore, they may be able to file lawsuits against the facilities to recover compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, etc. 

Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Law Firm – Bed Sore Injury Cases in Philadelphia, Delaware & Montgomery Counties

The Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette law firm achieved a Best Law Firm rating by U.S. News & World Report in the areas of medical malpractice law and personal injury law from 2016 until the rating was discontinued in August 2023. For over 25 years, our medical malpractice law firm has been advocating for patients across Pennsylvania. We’ve successfully represented patients against hospitals and medical facilities in Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Call for a FREE consultation at (610) 825-0500.

Last updated: August 23, 2023