In a Community Health Center setting, different conditions may influence revenue, both negatively and positively. Stage III and IV pressure ulcers are the two conditions that could lead to the center losing revenue because of the complications in which they result as well as the increase of the length of the poor performance of staff in regards to pressure ulcers prevention can lead to the loss of revenue for organizations. Stage III pressure ulcers is associated with more in-depth involvement of underlying tissue with more extensive destruction (Joel, 2018). Stage IV affects the deepest tissues and extends to the muscle, cartilage, tendon, and even the bone. Pressure ulcers of both stages lead to severe complications in the treatment of patients, with infection being the most significant and common (Bhattacharya & Mishra, 2015). In both stages, the ulcers progress significantly, leading to osteomyelitis, which the underlying bone infection that requires additional treatment associated with increased costs.
The increased costs of stage III and IV pressure ulcers are caused by predominantly prolonged care at Community Health Centers, with the condition causing an increase of patients’ stays by four to ten days. The prolonged periods of treatment and management are also linked to the emergence of nosocomial infections as well as associated co-morbidities. Since the costs of overcoming pressure ulcers depend on its severity, the treatment of stages III and IV can reach $20,000 per ulcer (Leaf Healthcare, 2016). According to Leaf Healthcare (2016), “stage III pressure ulcer treatment ranges between $5,900 and $14,840, while stage IV pressure ulcers can cost between $18,730 and $21,410” (p. 2). In addition to the increased time for pressure ulcers management, Community Health Centers experience financial losses in terms of paying overtime for wound care, purchasing medications, expenses on wound dressing and other products of advanced wound care.
References
Bhattacharya, S., & Mishra, R. K. (2015). Pressure ulcers: Current understanding and newer modalities of treatment. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery: Official Publication of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India, 48(1), 4-16. Web.
Joel, L. (2018). Advanced practice nursing: Essentials for role development (4th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.
Leaf Healthcare. (2016). The financial impact of pressure ulcers. Web.