Many influential people and organizations in the medical field became alarmed about the implications of discontinuing such care early on in the pandemic and set out to make a course correction. Wound Care is concerned that this decision would result in unanticipated negative implications that will create a gradual flood of patients to the emergency room. As our services are tied to home settings, Wound Care must express this issue (ED).
If chronic wounds are not treated and managed properly, they can lead to serious medical complications such as infection, sepsis, the need for limb amputation, and even death. As a consequence of this, many of the procedures that are offered by wound clinics are required rather than optional to safeguard the health of patients and stop the progression of their disease.
Realizing that patients with chronic wounds need to see their podiatrist, vascular surgeon, nurses, or any of the multi-disciplinary specialists involved in wound care can be of great benefit to any healthcare provider who sees patients with chronic wounds.
Here are five reasons why wound care is important in-home settings:
1. The initial government shutdown resulted in significant shifts in care.
A comparison of three weeks during the pandemic in 2020 to the same period one year earlier revealed a decline in wound care center visits of forty percent.
2. Ongoing treatment has the potential to save lives and limbs.
For instance, around 25 percent of the 34.2 million people living with diabetes may develop a foot ulcer at some point in their lives. Amputation may be necessary in 5% to 24% of cases involving foot ulcers. When appropriate treatment is provided, the risk of amputation can be cut in half, the number of hospital admissions can be lowered by 38 percent, and admissions to skilled nursing facilities can be cut by 70 percent.
3. A high rate of wound recurrence is observed in this patient.
According to a review of 19 research on foot ulcers, among individuals who have diabetic foot ulcers, 40% will have a recurrence within a year, roughly 60% will have a recurrence within 3 years, and 65% will have a recurrence within 5 years.
4. The number of people who require wound care is substantial and continues to rise.
Upwards of 8.2 million Medicare beneficiaries, or around 15%, have reported having wounds, either with or without infections. The prevalence of chronic wounds in the United States is expected to skyrocket as a direct result of the country’s rapidly greying population.
5. The expense of treating wounds is already significant.
When considering data from 2014, a conservative estimate places the annual cost of wound care for Medicare patients at $28 billion. When the cost of treating wounds caused by subsequent diagnoses is included, that annual cost comes closer to $96.8 billion.
Many home care centers provide wound care at home for patients who are eligible for the service. You will receive home health wound care from a team of trained professionals, in addition to the other treatments that have been prescribed to you by your doctor. Our wound care professionals utilize treatments and technologies that are supported by scientific evidence to help decrease complications, assist healing, and keep you safe in the comfort of your own home.
WOUND CARE at HOME Settings
Patients who satisfy the requirements for eligibility for home health wound care receive treatment for chronic and complex wounds in the convenience and privacy of their own homes. Medicare, Medicaid, and even some commercial health insurance policies will pay for this sort of treatment if the patient qualifies.
The treatment of wounds and the underlying illness processes that can lead to wounds is a team effort that includes nurses, social workers, home health aides, and speech, occupational, and physical therapists. Home health care can be delivered to you in the residence of your choice, be it a house, an apartment, the residence of a friend or relative, or even a senior community.
SERVICES FOR WOUND CARE AT HOME
We have extensive experience treating a wide variety of wounds, including the following:
- Surgical wounds
- Pressure ulcers/sores
- Diabetic wounds/neuropathic wounds
- Venous stasis ulcers
- Arterial ulcers
- Trauma
- Burns
- Non-healing wounds (wounds that won’t heal)
- Slow-healing wounds
- To address the specific wound care requirements of each patient, we have assembled specialized teams that collaborate closely with one another. The best chance for wound healing is achieved when your doctor, these team members, and you are in constant communication.
- Our services for wound care in the comfort of your own home may comprise the following, depending on your specific requirements and treatment plan
Skilled Nursing
- Provides suture/staple removal and incisional care
- Evaluates nutrition and hydration
- Reviews medications
- Evaluates for prevention/treatment support surfaces
- Performs dressing changes
- Assesses for signs and symptoms of infection
- Provides compression therapy and negative pressure wound therapy
- Educates patients and carers on wound healing, signs of infection, how to prevent complications, and when to ask for help.
Speech therapy
- Identifies potential issues that could impact wound healing and nutrition
- Counsels patients on safe foods and drinks that promote healing
- Teachers feeding and positioning techniques to improve nutrition
- Assesses for recent pneumonia, weight loss, and dehydration
- Assesses cognition and swallowing to help ensure the wound is receiving the nutrients it needs to heal
- Identifies potential issues that could impact wound healing and nutrition
- Assesses for recent pneumonia, weight loss, and dehydration
- Assesses for recent pneumonia, weight loss
Dietician
- Offers dietary advice to aid in the healing of wounds, when necessary
Physical therapy
- Assists with patient positioning, mobility, and transfers
- Manages wound contractures
- Teaches strength training exercises
- Addresses orthotic and prosthetic needs
- Conducts skin assessments
- Educates carers on pressure relief schedules
- Recommends offloading techniques to minimize the weight that is placed on an area of the body to prevent and heal ulcers
Occupational therapy
- Makes recommendations on appropriate assistive equipment
- Adapts self-care activities to ensure the integrity of the skin
- Teaches skills necessary for independent eating
Medical social worker
- Supports patients with financial issues that may affect their health
- Directs patients in the direction of community resources
- Helps patients follow the prescribed wound care plan (e.g., to help with meals or transportation to appointments)
Home health services
- Alerts your healthcare staff to potential problems such as wounds and infections at an early stage
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