From Reactive to Predictive: Rethinking Pressure Injury Prevention

In a compelling conversation, Solomon Wilcots interviews Martin Burns, CEO of Bruin Biometrics, about the urgent need to transform how healthcare approaches pressure injury prevention. 

Pressure injuries affect millions of patients annually and remain one of the most costly and preventable harms in healthcare. Yet for decades, prevention has relied heavily on visual skin assessments, risk scores like Braden and Norton, and subjective clinical judgment. The problem? By the time damage is visible on the skin, tissue injury may already be well underway. 

Martin explains why the future of prevention must shift from reactive treatment to objective, early detection. 

Sub-Epidermal Moisture (SEM) scanning identifies inflammatory changes beneath the skin before visible breakdown occurs. Instead of relying solely on observation, clinicians gain objective, actionable data that enables earlier intervention and more consistent decision-making. 

But the discussion goes beyond technology. Martin emphasizes the importance of pairing objective detection with standardized protocols, EMR integration, and clinical adoption support to drive measurable and sustainable results. 

The conversation also highlights an important health equity issue: patients with darker skin tones are at higher risk for pressure injuries, in part because visual assessment alone is less reliable. Objective detection helps ensure earlier, more equitable intervention for all patients. 

For nursing leaders, quality teams, and healthcare executives focused on reducing preventable harm and financial risk, this interview offers a clear roadmap for change. 

Watch the full discussion to learn how pressure injury prevention can move from subjective and reactive to predictive and proactive.