Adults with physical disabilities are generally at high risk for pressure wounds due to factors that include immobility, incontinence, diabetes, lack of sensation in parts of the person’s body and other conditions that increase the risk of skin and tissue breakdown.

ICS has an organization-wide wound prevention program using the Braden assessment for pressure ulcer risk. The Braden assessment helps us to identify those members who are most at risk for the development of pressure injuries, and create individualized prevention plans with them. The team also developed educational and treatment tools – see below – that are given to members to help them monitor their risk factors on a daily basis and record how they are following their individual action plan for prevention.   

Since creating our specialized wound care team in 2009 ICS has been able to:

• Reduce the number of new pressure injuries our members develop by more than a third
• Reduce the number of members requiring hospitalization for pressure injuries by 58 percent

Any ICS member who has an open wound is assigned to the team, which builds prevention and treatment directives into the member’s care plan that are developed to optimize the member’s ability to heal and then remain wound free. The team coordinates treatment and services among all providers working with the member, including primary care physicians, wound care physicians or clinics, certified home health agencies, rehab services, family members and personal care workers.

More information on wound care

• Read our wound care tip sheet in English/Spanish or English/Russian
• Learn more about prevention with our Pressure Wound Stoplight Card