Reusable vs. Disposable Wedges: The Hidden Cost Hospitals Can’t Afford to Ignore

Pressure injuries remain one of the most expensive and frustrating problems in healthcare. Every hospital knows the stakes. Patients suffer, caregivers feel the strain, and costs mount quickly. Yet many facilities continue to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into disposable wedges without seeing better results.

When Disposables Fail

Disposables look easy. Use it once, throw it away, move on. But behind that simplicity is a cycle of constant reordering, constant waste, and constant disappointment.

One hospital spent nearly $800,000 in a single year on disposable wedges. Even after that staggering expense, their pressure injury rates stayed the same.

What Changes with Reusables

Reusable wedges break that cycle. They stay in the room. They wipe clean with standard hospital disinfectant. They are considered noncritical equipment, the same category as pillows, mattresses, and blood pressure cuffs. That means staff already know how to handle them.

The same hospital switched to stocking every room, about forty beds, with Bedsore Rescue reusable wedges. Their annual spend dropped from $800,000 to just $3,560. Their pressure injury numbers improved.

The reason was simple. The wedges were always in the room when staff needed them. Caregivers no longer had to dig through central supply or question whether something should be discarded. Patients were positioned properly and consistently, which is exactly what prevention depends on.

Where the Savings Show Up

The financial impact was dramatic, but it is not just about the supply budget.

• Less waste meant lower disposal costs and less red-bag trash.
• Consistent positioning helped staff follow the 30-degree tilt that NPIAP recommends protecting the sacrum and hips.
• Avoiding preventable pressure injuries reduced risk of CMS penalties, since Stage 3 and 4 wounds are not reimbursed.

The Clearer Choice

For caregivers, the question is straightforward. Does it get thrown away, or does it get disinfected. Disposables keep hospitals locked in an endless loop of buying and tossing. Reusables like Bedsore Rescue break the cycle. They save money, reduce waste, and improve patient care.

This focus on practical, real-world solutions is exactly what drives Gwen Jewell, wound care specialist and founder of Jewell Nursing Solutions. Gwen has a passion for finding ways to reduce pressure, keep patients more comfortable, and support nurses in the fight against pressure injuries. If you’d like to take a deeper dive into prevention strategies, you can download The Ultimate Guide: How to Stop Bedsores here.

Jewell Nursing Solutions’ mission is to empower all caregivers to prevent and heal pressure injury wounds. For more information, contact us HERE.