How to Create a Successful Wound Care Program

Published in Wound Care on September 26, 2023

By Jodi RohlwingHettich, Vice President, Business Development, DermaRite Industries, LLC

Over 6.5 million people in the home environment suffer from hard to heal or complex wounds resulting from surgery, diabetes, or vascular disease. A wound can impact a patient’s quality of life and can be very painful. Offering wound care dressings can differentiate your HME from others; however, making a successful wound care program starts with education.

Educate Your Staff

It is important for your staff to be able to identify the various categories of dressings and wound types including skin tears, pressure injuries, and ulcers. Your staff does not need to understand all the clinical aspects of wound care but a general knowledge of wounds and appropriate dressings. Your staff should be educated on the documentation required to bill surgical dressings as well as the LCD.

Educate Your Referrals

Be a trusted resource to your referrals on wound care and proper documentation. Training your referrals on what information is necessary to complete an order reduces errors and call backs. Educate your referrals on product offerings, they may be limited to the products that are provided by their network, bringing new products to your referral can improve patient outcomes and your margins.

Educate Your Patient

On average, only 35% of patients at home knew how to manage their wound care. Providing educational materials to the patient on changing their dressing, preventing infection, and basic nutrition for wound healing is vital to improved outcomes. Look to your manufacturer partners to provide various education tools for your patients. An educated patient feels more empowered and has a much higher success of healing.

Jodi RohlwingHettich is the Vice President of Business Development for DermaRite Industries, LLC. For more information on DermaRite, please visit their vendor partner page on the members-only portal.

TAGS