Cost-effective pressure ulcer management in extended care.

Annual care of pressure ulcers in the United States is estimated to cost $1.3 billion, so it is essential to provide the most cost effective pressure ulcer care. This need is particularly urgent in long term and home care, which are seeing increasing numbers of pressure ulcers. Cost effectiveness can be improved by using appropriate dressing sizes, shapes, and positioning, as well as by combining specialized primary and secondary dressings. Standardized research-based pressure ulcer prevention and treatment protocols also significantly reduce costs of materials and labor and prevalence of pressure ulcers. These measures can help provide higher quality care at lower costs while improving patient quality of life and caregiver morale.