This 2020 national hospital database study concluded that each hospital-acquired pressure injury added about $21,767 in hospital cost per patient versus no pressure injury, equal to about $30,000 in 2026 dollars.
Mike Piskie
Increasing HAPI stage is associated with higher in-hospital mortality, higher risk of other HACs, and 1.5 to 2x higher 30, 60, and 90-day readmissions.
Overall, the annual prevalence of pressure injuries and annual mean hospitalization cost increased ($69,499.29 to $102,939.14).
Pressure mapping gives clinicians immediate visual feedback on where pressure remains, turning “best-practice” repositioning into a teachable, repeatable workflow. It helps staff validate that a turn or support-surface change actually relieved pressure, rather than relying on skin checks, habit, or patient report.
AHRQ HCUP data show pressure-ulcer–related adult hospitalizations carried materially higher utilization and cost: mean stay 12.7–14.1 days vs 5.0 days without pressure ulcers, and mean cost per stay $16,800–$20,400 vs $9,900. Over half were discharged to long-term care, and mortality was higher.
This University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital study found that developing a hospital-acquired Stage II+ pressure ulcer was associated with substantially higher hospital costs and longer stays. Mean unadjusted costs were $37,288 vs $13,924 and LOS 30.4 vs 12.8 days. Even after adjustment, costs and LOS remained significantly higher.
This Johns Hopkins-led meta-analysis reports that the use of pressure monitoring is associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of developing pressure injuries, demonstrating their effectiveness as a clinical prevention tool.
At the University of Kansas Hospital Burnett Burn Center, Advanced Pressure Visualization resulted in a 95% reduction in hospital-acquired pressure injuries (27 down to 1) and a 44% reduction in peak pressures, showing the effectiveness of patient engagement with real-time pressure feedback.
This peer-reviewed University of Florida study found that after repositioning, elevated sacral pressure persisted in over 95% of turns, leaving patients at ongoing pressure injury risk. The findings show that turning alone does not reliably offload pressure and that pressure visualization is needed to confirm effective offloading.
Methodist Dallas Medical Center achieved 100% elimination of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers over 7,014 patient days with continuous pressure visualization, compared to 16 HAPUs the prior year with visualization. Staff reported 100% agreement that visualization improved repositioning effectiveness and reduced pressure exposure.