Pressure sores: a plan for primary care prevention.

Pressure sores are a preventable cause of increased morbidity, mortality, and treatment cost. Prevention begins with a knowledge of risk factors, both external and internal, and specific interventional measures for each. Management is best implemented using a team: the physician, nurse, nurse's aide, rehab nurse, physical therapist, dietitian, and occupational therapist, with an informed physician as team director. New management tools available include risk factor assessment scales to help in targeting resources.