The Hidden Millions: Revealing the True ROI of Pressure Injury Prevention

Hospitals today are navigating one of the most financially challenging environments in modern healthcare. Every dollar must be justified, and every initiative must prove its value. Yet amid competing priorities, one issue continues to drain resources at an alarming rate: pressure injuries. And as the latest data makes clear, the true return on prevention is not just meaningful—it’s transformative. Bruin Biometrics held a webinar to share insights on this important topic, which you can see here and read the summary below:

Pressure injuries remain the only hospital-acquired condition that has steadily increased since CMS introduced pay-for-performance programs—a trend that should concern clinicians, financial leaders, and quality executives alike. With 2.5 million patients affected annually and 60,000 deaths¹, the clinical burden is staggering. But when hospitals begin quantifying the financial impact, the picture becomes even more urgent.

For a typical 250-bed hospital, the numbers speak loudly. Using published incidence and cost data, facilities can expect roughly 376 pressure injuries per year, with nearly 70% occurring on the sacrum and heels. These injuries alone cost nearly $5.5 million annually in direct treatment expenses. Add another $1.8 million in extended length of stay, since severe injuries can prolong hospitalization by nearly two weeks, and the financial drain becomes significant.

Then there’s the legal exposure. Pressure injuries represent one of the most litigated adverse events in healthcare, with average settlements reaching $250,000. A 250-bed hospital typically incurs around $428,000 per year in legal liability tied to sacral and heel pressure injuries—before even considering attorney fees or reputational damage.

Altogether, these factors amount to approximately $7.7 million per year in preventable costs—costs that strain financial margins, reduce capacity, and undermine patient experience.

Why are these injuries still happening, despite widespread commitment from clinical teams? The answer lies in detection. Traditional prevention tools—Braden scores and visual skin assessments—only identify damage after it’s already visible. But tissue injury begins deep below the skin, often 3–10 days before discoloration appears.

This is where Bruin Biometrics’ Provizio® SEM Scanner changes the equation. Using biocapacitance technology, the scanner measures sub-epidermal moisture—a proven biomarker of early tissue damage. It reveals underlying injury up to five days (median) sooner ² than visual assessment, giving clinical teams the lead time they need to intervene and prevent the wound from forming.

And the ROI? It’s one of the strongest in all of patient safety. With even a conservative 50% reduction, a 250-bed hospital saves:

• $2.7M in treatment costs
• $900K in length-of-stay savings
• $214K in reduced legal exposure
• $64K in preserved reimbursement through accurate present-on-admission documentation

After program costs, that leaves $3.4 million in net annual savings and a remarkable 745% ROI. For every dollar invested, hospitals get $7.45 back.

In an era where hospitals are searching for margin-protecting, evidence-backed interventions, the financial case for pressure injury prevention supported by objective SEM technology has never been stronger.

Effective pressure injury prevention starts with early detection. And effective early detection starts with SEM scanning.

To explore what this ROI could look like for your facility, reach out to us here. We’re here to support your team in achieving earlier detection, stronger documentation, and meaningful financial performance.

Refs:
1. Padula W.V., et al. (2018)
2. Okonkwo, H., et al. (2020)
* Median