RF Health has taken a significant step forward in addressing the leading causes of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) by acquiring HeelP.O.D., a unique pressure offloading device that ensures full heel access and visualization while effectively offloading or “floating” the foot. This strategic move solidifies our commitment to providing comprehensive pressure injury prevention solutions, enhancing patient outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs.
The Devastating Reality of Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries are one of the most prevalent and costly hospital-acquired conditions in the U.S., with the sacrum and heels being the two most common sites to develop pressure injuries. Over 2.5 million patients in the U.S. suffer from pressure injuries annually, resulting in significant pain, increased infection risks, and a higher workload for hospital staff. Despite efforts to prevent them, hospital-acquired pressure injuries continue to result in morbidity, mortality, and associated increased healthcare costs.
Aside from the high cost of treatment, pressure injuries also significantly impact patients’ lives and a provider’s ability to administer appropriate care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recognized this growing problem and introduced the “Hospital Harm – Pressure Injury” electronic Clinical Quality Measure (eCQM) measure for the 2025 Inpatient Quality Reporting program. This measure will require hospitals to report new Stage 2 pressure injuries starting in 2028, making it voluntary in 2025, directly impacting reimbursement rates. With pressure injuries costing the U.S. healthcare system nearly an estimated $12 billion annually, hospitals need to invest in offloading solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.
The Importance of Prevention
Patients are at higher risk for developing a pressure injury when they have a medical condition that prevents them from changing positions or moving. The primary contributing factors for these injuries are pressure, friction, and shear.
Most pressure injuries are preventable through interventions by healthcare workers, caregivers, and patients. The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) created guidelines, including a Standardized Pressure Injury Prevention Protocol (S-PIPP) checklist for daily assessment, including the following methods to redistribute pressure:
- Use positioning aids that minimize friction/shear
- Use high-specification reactive foam for immobile persons
Support Surface Immersion and Envelopment: The Key to Effective Pressure Redistribution
Extensive literature supports the significance of load distribution on pressure injury risk. According to the NPIAP, immersion and envelopment are both needed for effective pressure redistribution.
A simple analogy for immersion and envelopment would be similar to a memory foam surface type. Immersion refers to the ability of a surface to distribute body weight by allowing a patient to “sink in” to the support surface. Envelopment is the ability of the support surface to conform to the shape of the body part as it sinks in.
Unfortunately, commonly used support surfaces are not designed to manage pressure injury risk through immersion and envelopment. Both the HeelP.O.D. and ELEVATE Patient Positioners are made of a proprietary memory foam that provides optimal pressure redistribution and offloading with immersion and envelopment technology to aid in improving patient comfort and compliance.
Redefining Pressure Injury Prevention
As the healthcare community continues to struggle with the complexities of pressure injuries, it’s clear that new, innovative approaches are needed.
At RF Health, our mission is to help solve fundamental patient and healthcare team member challenges with evidence-based solutions. We’re committed to leveraging medical device technology to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce hospital-acquired conditions, including hospital-acquired immobility and hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
The acquisition of HeelP.O.D. marks a significant milestone in our journey to revolutionize pressure injury prevention. With the addition of HeelP.O.D. to our innovative Pressure Injury Prevention (PIP) portfolio, we now offer a comprehensive portfolio of innovative solutions to address the top two leading causes of hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
We’re excited about what’s ahead in our quest to help make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.