The goal of effective wound management is to deliver products that improve patient outcomes while increasing operational efficiencies, reducing costs and hospital lengths-of-stay. Management of wounds is crucial for elderly patients, as these patients frequently suffer from deteriorating physical conditions and their wounds often are exacerbated by circulatory problems, incontinence, and poor nutrition. Along with the growing elderly population, the incidence of diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, and venous ulcers is expected to significantly increase over the next ten years. ≈ 15% of all diabetic patients develop a foot or leg ulcer during the course of their disease. The average hospital length-of-stay for diabetics with ulcerations is 60% longer than for discharges without ulcerations. ≈ 25% of patients in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities have pressure ulcers, and approximately 13% of patients in acute care centers have pressure ulcers.

LTAC Focus
The economics of managing medically complex patients who require long-term acute care—typically defined as a hospital stay of 25 days or more, are complicated. There is a need for criteria to ensure that patients who require long-term acute care are placed in the most appropriate setting and given access to relevant programs of care. The goal for effective cost management is based on optimally managing the volume of patient days, reducing length of stay and minimizing any operational disruptions. There is an ongoing need for studies of patient characteristics, resource costs, and outcomes for treating the elderly and disabled Medicare populations discharged from the hospital to post-acute settings. AutoloGel System is an expense that may be captured in a prospective pay setting.

www.ALTHA.org

Patients to Consider for AutoloGel Use
  • Medically complex wound care patients who require long-term acute care—typically defined as a hospital stay of 25 days or more Link: www.ALTHA.org
  • Elderly and disabled Medicare populations discharged from the hospital to post-acute settings with chronic non-healing arterial, leg or diabetic foot ulcers.  www1.va.gov/health/  www.ihs.gov
  • Diabetic ulcer patients who have diminished or absent sensation, or who are debilitated, emaciated, paralyzed, or chronically bedridden.  www1.va.gov/health/  www.ihs.gov
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