Creating a Team Approach to Wound Management

     The monitoring of nosocomial pressure ulcers by state and federal government agencies has been associated with outcomes grading performance and as a result increased attention by acute care facilities has been directed on lowering incidence and prevalence rates.  Many facilities, to this end, employ WOCNs to consult on patients admitted with or who develop pressure ulcers.  In our 900 bed tertiary Level 1 trauma center 2 WOCNs have been assigned to this task.  Needless to say with an average number of consults approaching 15 new patient referrals per day, the task seemed insurmountable.

     There was limited literature available in our search to document how a wound care team would function in an acute care setting nor was there any information available for the financial revenue that could be realized.  Initially in the spring of 2011, nursing, physical therapy and nutrition services met to determine interest in creating a multidisciplinary wound care team.  As all disciplines were anxious to improve outcomes for patients with wounds, shortly after the initial meeting we met again in August of 2011.  At this point we moved forward with the concept of a team approach to patient consultation and follow-ups.  This was met with approval by administration as well and a pilot project was initiated.  A new Medical Director for Wound Care was hired; we enlisted a NP CWOCN and a PA who has specialized in vascular surgery to join our team.    This poster will describe the patient care improvements we have identified with this team including increased patient satisfaction.   The challenges in this effort as well as the steps undertaken by this team to move this project forward will be described