Collaborative Wound Healing from Hospital to Home Health Services

The purpose of this research is to determine the benefit of patient wound healing when a collaborative effort is developed between the WOCN in the acute hospital setting, the Wound Healing Center and the WOCN in Home Health Services.  The idea was developed when the WOCN from the Home Health setting initiated positive relationship building between various disciplines to encourage an easier and more efficient transition of patient care when discharged home with skilled nursing needs.  The study involves patients who are seen in all three disciplines of acute care, out-patient wound care and home health care.  By communicating with the WOCN in the acute setting upon patient discharge to home care and utilization of the camera program developed by the WOCN, we were able to provide effective wound healing and continuity of care for the patient.  The camera program was developed for easier access to wound visualization for the WOCN and MD to determine if the patient needed an additional or immediate re-visit to decrease the risk of infection, hospital re-admission or to change product selection.  The findings were immediately realized by all disciplines beginning with decrease wound healing time, increase patient quality of care, effective wound care product selection for patient ease at home and decrease cost of wound care to the patient, agency and Medicare.  The positive working environment that has been created by a team approach has also been beneficial to our agency.  Our initial overall approach was to increase patient continuity of care to benefit patient quality of care and encourage patient healing and independence which we have met and exceeded.