Page 156 - Clinical Managers Orientation Binder

4/11/2019

Patients at Risk

 Medical History
 Co-Morbid Conditions
 Risk Assessment Tools

 Identifying patients at risk for chronic wounds can often
be determined by the patient’s medical history and
through physical examination
 Multiple co morbid conditions can increase the risk for
ulcer development or impair the healing process of an
existing wound
 Diagnostic and Risk Assessment Tools such as the
Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk, and
vascular study results can predict risk and guide
interventions

Medical History
Co-morbid Conditions

Examples of the impact of comorbid conditions
 Venous Insufficiency/PVD/CHF = Lower Extremity Ulcers
 Diabetes & Ischemic Arterial disease = arterial ulcers

 Diabetes = surgical wound healing
 Incontinence = Dermatitis
 Immobility = Pressure Ulcer Development

***Treatment for one condition is often necessary before
the treatment for the other can be effective

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