Pressure ulcer risk factors among hospitalized patients with activity limitation
Article Abstract:
Dry skin and decreased body weight appear to be associated with an increased risk of pressure ulcer development among older patients. Pressure ulcers are also known as bedsores. In severe cases they may cause the skin to break down and the underlying tissue, bone or muscle may be exposed. A total of 286 hospitalized patients aged 55 years or older were examined regularly for pressure ulcers. The patients were examined for a median of nine days. Almost 13% of the patients (37) developed pressure ulcers. Of these, 73% developed pressure ulcers during the first three weeks of hospitalization. Among patients confined to bed or a chair, immobility, dry lower back skin, decreased body weight, the presence of a low-grade (stage I) pressure ulcer and a condition known as lymphocytopenia were all significantly associated with an increased risk of pressure ulcer development.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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The demand for documentation for Medicare payment
Article Abstract:
The Health Care and Financing Administration would do well to consider a proposal to simplify the coding for some types of patient care. In 1989, Congress tried to reward the intellectual demands of medical practice by developing codes for evaluating patients and managing their care. These would be different from codes for performing diagnostic procedures. These codes in turn would determine how doctors would be paid by Medicare. However, the documentation required is so voluminous that a change is probably needed. A 1999 report proposes coding based on the nature of the visit and the time spent with the doctor.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1999
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Looking for medical injuries where the light is bright
Article Abstract:
It may be difficult to use information from a hospital patient's medical records to identify medical conditions they have that were caused by a treatment they received while hospitalized. While medical records and other hospital administrative data are the easiest data to analyze, they may not be the best data to use for this purpose. For example, a condition noted in the medical records may have been present before the patient was hospitalized.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2003
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