Prevention Options

Medicare pays for equipment and procedures designed to prevent bedsores from developing. However, in the case of some types of specialized equipment, there are guidelines that must be followed in order to ensure that the equipment will be covered as intended. The major two requirements are that all special equipment be recognized as effective against bedsore development, and that the equipment is prescribed by your physician explicitly for bedsore prevention. This means that if you have a specialized gel mattress or some other type of equipment, your physician must indicate that the reason for the equipment is bedsore prevention. This should be documented on your chart along with any special directions and indication for use.

If you are at a very high risk for bedsores, you may need more specialized equipment and prevention methods than someone who scores as a low-risk patient. If you or your loved one is hospitalized for any length of time, you should double check with the hospital staff regarding risk assessment and treatment options. As time goes on, you may also need to ask about reevaluation and make certain any required adjustments are made if there is a move from a low-risk to a high-risk category.

Regardless of the prevention options chosen by you and your physician, it is ultimately the job of hospital staff to perform the required tasks on a daily basis that will ensure that bedsores do not develop. The importance of turning schedules cannot be emphasized enough, and in there should be a direct process in place that requires personal responsibility on the part of nursing home staff in order to see the best results. If you are worried about the accuracy of any nurses’ documentation (i.e. patient turning reported when none takes place) you may wish to file a complaint with the hospital regulatory board. You may also wish to file a complaint with Medicare, or file a complaint in court. If you do decide to pursue legal action, always speak to a trained legal professional first, in order to fully understand your options.