Strategic treatment of pressure ulcer using sub-epidermal moisture values

Abstract

A method of assessing a patient at risk of developing pressure ulcers, comprising: performing a sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) scan of a body location selected for monitoring, calculating a delta value for the body location based on the SEM scan, and determining whether the delta value exceeds a threshold. The method further comprises assigning the patient to a risk level wherein the risk level is (i) a first risk level if the delta value exceeds the threshold or (ii) a second risk level if the delta value does not exceed the threshold, indicating a pressure ulcer intervention for administration corresponding to the risk level, and continuing to perform a plurality of SEM measurements at a pre-determined frequency corresponding to the risk level.

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