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Chronic Wounds: A Look at the human and financial toll
Over the past few years, in an effort to promote better outcomes for patients, healthcare providers, payers, researchers, and regulators have started paying more attention to a once-overlooked area of healthcare: chronic wounds. Chronic wounds encompass injuries such as burns and surgical site infections, as well as pressure injuries (bedsores), hospital-acquired pressure injuries (known by the acronym HAPIs), and diabetic ulcers.
The advent of value-based care initiatives and heavy penalties for HAPIs are leading to changes in wound care. Not only do these injuries cause pain for the individual, but they also add to a hospital’s costs, are a cause for readmissions, and can lead to additional infections and even death. Dedicated clinicians and innovators bringing promising technologies, products, and services to the market are starting to move the dial in managing costs and improving outcomes.
Technological advancements in wound care have created new options for treating chronic wounds, and electronic records and AI-assisted treatment allow for better monitoring and decision-making.