Pressure Ulcers

Pressure Ulcer evolving to another Stage

If a patient is admitted with a pressure ulcer at one stage and it progresses to a higher stage, two separate codes should be assigned:

One code for the site and stage of the ulcer on admission

A second code for the same ulcer site and the highest stage reported during the stay.

Pressure ulcers described as healing should be assigned the appropriate pressure ulcer stage code based on the documentation in the medical record.

For ulcers that were present on admission but healed at the time of discharge, assign the code for the site and stage of the pressure ulcer at the time of admission.