Pressure ulcers: increase in hospital costs due to deficit in patient safety in public institutions in Ecuador

Abstract

This article aims to determine the development of pressure ulcers in intensive care units, as well as to identify the hospital costs per patient in the complete healing process of type III ulcers, identifying the factors and causes for which there is a Prevalence of this type of adverse event in health centers in Ecuador. In Ecuador's public institutions, the cost of treating pressure ulcers represents a significant increase in hospital costs, because the value may vary according to the degree of injury. Additionally, patients who develop pressure ulcers are at increased risk of infection and further complications, further increasing healthcare costs. The values to be identified focus on the environment of public institutions, since the values in private health centers may vary according to the type of care offered by them. The result of this study determines that human errors, whether voluntary or involuntary, can lead to high costs in health care. Pressure ulcers are categorized as one of the most costly adverse events at the hospital level.

Keywords: Pressure ulcers, hospital costs, cures.