Innovation in Prevention: Siskin Hospital Uses Thermal Imaging to Improve Patient Care
Ariel Blackston, BSN, RN, CWON, CRRN, director of Wound Care and Case Management
“By the time a pressure injury becomes visible to the naked eye, damage beneath the skin may already be underway,” said Ariel Blackston, BSN, RN, CWON, CRRN, director of Wound Care and Case Management at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation.
Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) continue to present significant challenges across all healthcare settings. For patients undergoing physical rehabilitation, these complications can be especially difficult. Mobility limitations, complex medical conditions, and extended periods of immobility can significantly increase the risk of pressure injuries. This can result in decreased participation in therapy, poorer patient outcomes, and increased risk of infection and rehospitalization.
That is why Siskin Hospital’s wound care team sought a more proactive approach to wound prevention. In February 2026, the hospital implemented the Wound Vision Scout, an FDA-approved thermographic imaging device designed to detect pressure injuries and infection-related concerns before they become visible to the naked eye.
Every patient admitted to Siskin Hospital receives a head-to-toe skin assessment, including thermal imaging of the two primary pressure points — the heels and sacral area. Traditionally, skin assessments relied largely on visible clinical signs such as discoloration with pressure injuries and pain, redness, or drainage from surgical wounds. With thermal imaging technology, the wound care team is now able to identify concerning areas much earlier and begin treatment or preventative interventions sooner.
Since the beginning of fiscal year 2025, Siskin Hospital has seen a significant sustained reduction in HAPIs, and with the addition of Wound Vision Scout, that number continues to improve. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, the hospital’s HAPI rate declined to 0.23%, well below industry benchmarks and the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) benchmark of 1.02%.
Closed surgical incisions, which make up nearly 80% of the wound care managed at Siskin Hospital, also benefit from this technology. Thermal imaging can detect temperature changes associated with inflammation or infection before symptoms become visible or systemic effects develop. This allows Siskin Hospital’s team of physiatrists to identify and treat infections earlier, helping prevent further complications and worsening symptoms.
Siskin Hospital’s goal is to provide the highest level of quality, evidence-based care, and preventing pressure injuries and infection is one of the many ways the organization continues to advance that mission.
Looking ahead, Blackston is excited about future enhancements to the Wound Vision Scout technology, including a cordless device design and the integration of artificial intelligence to help reduce subjectivity in wound assessment.
“Ultimately, this is what is best for our patients,” said Blackston. “We are able to be proactive from the moment of admission and identify concerns earlier, allowing us to intervene sooner and improve outcomes.”
For patients undergoing physical rehabilitation, working on regaining strength, mobility, and independence, catching and preventing these complications can make a critical difference in their recovery journey. By identifying pressure injuries and infection-related concerns sooner, Siskin Hospital’s wound care team is helping patients stay healthier, participate more fully in therapy, and better progress toward their ultimate goal: recovery.
