Enhancing Patient Access in Clinical Practice: A Comprehensive 3-Pronged Strategy

Introduction: Recent reports indicate an increase in individuals in the US treated for at least one chronic wound. A recent publication on the Wound Balance Concept highlights the importance of early recognition and intervention for wounds, rather than waiting up to 12 weeks to classify a wound as chronic. This approach emphasizes the transition from merely managing wounds to actively healing them. While some barriers to early intervention are easily recognized and addressed, the complexity of the US healthcare system can significantly hinder the application of advanced, evidence-based therapies.Methods:In an urban mid-sized community with access to quality healthcare, resources are limited in terms of staffing, clinical specialties, and census loads. Additionally, there is a lack of innovative options to manage barriers to healing. Three key areas of need were identified including: reducing the frequency of dressing changes and nurse visits, customizing management of referrals requiring negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and exploring a novel SAP dressing* to provide an innovative approach to clinical practice, healing trajectories, and wound healing science. The author will share her experience in implementing new protocols for these three areas and describe the benefits of these changes for improving access to care.Results:The implementation of the new protocols resulted in improved accessibility to wound specialty resources. NPWT patients were admitted and treated more efficiently. Nursing staff could shift their focus from routine visits to caring for new complex wound patients, and patients were offered more options to improve their quality of life, including reduced frequency of dressing changes and easier access to supplies.Discussion: Improving clinical practice involves more than just "providing wound care." It requires a comprehensive review of patient needs in conjunction with operational needs and evidence-based strategies. Implementing a customized approach to meet the needs of the communities served can expand services to populations in need, despite the challenges faced by many mid-sized urban communities.References:Carter M, D. J. (2023). Chronic wound prevalence and the associated cost of treatment in Medicare beneficiaries: changes between 2014 and 2019. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ECONOMICS, 26(1), 894-901. Garten, A., Smola, H. B., Carr, M., Dumas, F., Schäfer, J., Trouth, S., . . . Willilams, L. G. (2023). Wound Balance: Achieving Wound Healing with Confidence. Wounds International, 1-16. (n.d.). World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) Consensus Document. Wound exudate: effective assessment and management Wounds International, 2019 Atkin L, B. Z. (2019). Implementing TIMERS: the race against hard-to-heal wounds. J Wound Care, 28(3 Suppl 3), S1–S49.