Mike Piskie

Patients with pressure injuries experience severely diminished quality of life across every dimension - physical, emotional, social, and cognitive. Pain is the defining and relentless feature, described by patients as leading to helplessness, despair, and complete dependence. Behind every statistic is a person whose life has been fundamentally diminished by a preventable wound. Read Full Article

Among 676,435 hospitalized patients with pressure ulcers, median length of stay was 7 days versus 3 days for those without - more than double. Hospital stays involving a pressure ulcer may incur additional annual charges of up to $700,000. Patients with PIs were significantly more likely to have longer stays, higher charges, and worse outcomes across every measured variable. Read Full Article

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 $30,333 in 2026 dollars. Read Full Article

Overall, the annual prevalence of pressure injuries and annual mean hospitalization cost increased ($69,499.29 to $102,939.14). Read Full Article

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. Read Full Article