Photographing pressure ulcers to enhance documentation

Complete and careful observation, description and documentation of pressure ulcers is an essential component of practice when caring for people with pressure ulcers. Photographing pressure ulcers and including the photo as part of the patient's chart provides a useful adjunct to the written record. While a "picture is worth a thousand words," photographs can be misleading unless they are consistently taken according to specific guidelines. Techniques to enhance photographic results and avoid common errors are discussed.