Technology and product reviews


twice-weekly nurse visits in the standard care arm. The resulting figures show that the once-weekly dressing changes may save US$158 per patient in material costs and a further US$314 per patient in reduced nursing time — a total saving of US$472 per patient over 12 weeks. These costs feature Medicare reimbursement and are taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009 (www.bls.gov/ home.htm). A clinical evaluation of 25 patients who were treated with ALLEVYN Ag Adhesive and Non-Adhesive in a UK accident and emergency department also illustrates the cost savings associated with the dressing[56]


.


This study estimated a material cost saving of 40 euros per week. Dressing changes were also reduced by 1.6 per week, resulting in 160 minutes of saved nursing time for each 10 patients treated with ALLEVYN Ag. It must be noted that neither of these


studies were designed to validate the cost benefits of using ALLEVYN Ag in patients with chronic wounds. Therefore, the performance of larger studies with a control arm are necessary if comprehensive conclusions about any cost savings are to be drawn.


CONCLUSION The management of hard-to-heal wounds relies on a comprehensive approach to care that involves a structured treatment protocol and allows for the practical application of available therapies. Patients with a good


level of symptom management and who are concordant with therapy will often go on to achieve closure of their wounds. In wounds where healing is impaired by the presence of bioburden there is a need for clinically effective antibacterial therapies that are easy to use, effective, and that reduce the drain on scarce healthcare resources. This study featured in this article provided


a ‘real-world’ clinical evaluation of a protocol for the treatment for longstanding venous leg ulcers using a dressing containing silver sulfadiazine[54]


clinicians seeking to reduce the human and financial costs of hard-to-heal wounds.


AUTHOR DETAILS John C Lantis II, is Chief of Division Vascular/ Endovascular Surgery; Director of Vascular Clinical Research, St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital and Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery, Columbia University, New York, USA; Professor Patricia Price is Dean and Head of School, Healthcare Studies, Cardiff University, UK.


. This provides a benchmark for


This article has been sponsored by Smith & Nephew. ALLEVYNTM


and PROFORETM trademarks of Smith & Nephew.


WEBCAST SERIES2011 INTERACTIVE GLOBAL


Wounds International invites you to


Understanding biofilm-based


wound care: what you need to know


Broadcasting on Wednesday 14 December 2011 at 11.00 AM GMT (6.00 AM EST – USA & Canada) & 4.30 PM GMT (11.30 AM EST - USA & Canada), followed by your chance to ask the expert in a LIVE Q&A session. Watch the presentations online at: www.woundsinternational.com/webcasts.php Register at http://webcasts.woundsinternational.com


Brought to you by Wounds International in conjunction with, and sponsored by Smith & Nephew


WOUNDS INTERNATIONAL WEBCAST SERIES 2011 Wounds International has launched a new webcast series focusing on topical issues for clinicians worldwide and providing an opportunity to ask the expert. The first webcast was broadcast on 8 June 2011 and was onImproving clinical and economic outcomes in hard to heal wounds. Professor Patricia Price and Dr John Lantis discuss the impact of hard to heal wounds on patients and suggest a management algorithm for those with infected venous leg ulcers. For those of you who did not log on to view this live broadcast, you can watch the videos at:http://www.woundsinternational.com/ webcasts.php


To watch the second webcast in this series with Professor Gregory Schultz and Dr John Lantis speaking onUnderstanding biofilm-based wound management: what you need to know, register at http://www.webcasts.woundsinternational.com


35 Wounds International Vol 2 | Issue 4 | ©Wounds International 2011


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