WOCN Workgroup: Engaging the Power of Standardization in Wound Care

Background:  Our healthcare system is a multi-disciplinary IDN including 5 hospitals and two wound healing clinics.  A Value Analysis team was formed to review the existing formulary of wound care products. Our objectives were to:

1. achieve continuity in wound care throughout the healthcare system;

2. streamline product usage, increase wear time, and reduce cost without negatively impacting clinical results of wound healing.

Step One: Assess Needs:  The team compared the current wound treatment protocol and determined the products for the formulary review should be foam, hydrogels, and calcium alginate dressings (with and without silver). 

Step Two:  Select Products for Evaluation:  A review of current products, clinical evidence, and cost was conducted, and products were selected. 

Step Three:  Clinical Evaluations:  The 5 hospitals in the system trialed the new dressings versus the existing protocols. These evaluations were designed to assess wear time, ease of use for staff, patient comfort, and clinical efficacy. The products were assessed for use across the full range of wound types.    

 Step Four:  Evaluate Results:  Data gathered from clinicians in the healthcare system revealed:

1. 100% agreed that standards for wound care products and wound types were needed; 

2.  100% believed that the products selected should be evidence-based;  

3.  100% agreed the trial products performed well.

4.  Over 40% of the current wound care budget dollars would be saved by switching to the trialed products. 

 Conclusion:  Facilitating a meeting with the healthcare system WOCN’s for the purpose of reviewing current literature and trialing products for effectiveness enabled us to achieve our objectives, including cost savings of over 40%.  The new wound care treatment formulary has also resulted in streamlined product usage and consistency across the continuum of care which we believe will lead to an increase in quality patient care.