Disparities in Access to Wound Care: Strategies for Improving Access and Reducing Costs
Access to quality healthcare is not equal. As much as healthcare leaders would like to think that there is equal access to healthcare in the U.S., it is far from true. Depending on where someone lives, how much money they have and their education level, outcomes are dramatically different. When we take a closer look, the same is true for wound care.
It comes down to the social determinants of health. It has been a buzz word in healthcare circles for the past few years, and it is certainly relevant when it comes to wound care. In the words of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Just promoting healthy choices won’t eliminate these and other health disparities. Instead, public health organizations and their partners in sectors like education, transportation, and housing need to take action to improve the conditions in people’s environments.”
For wound care that means:
- Transportation — Getting to wound clinic appointments can be a challenge for some. As a result, transportation is a barrier to receiving proper wound care for many patients.
- Geography — Many areas of the country face significant clinician shortages or do not have access to a wound center in in the region. If patients do not have access to proper wound care, they are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to healing.
- Economic — Treating wounds requires vigilance and, without the right insurance, it can be expensive. Financial considerations can be a major barrier for patients to receive the proper wound care.
It all comes down to removing barriers to wound care, ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time in the right place. Not only is that a boost for patient outcomes, but it comes with a financial benefit for health plans.
Solving for the social determinants of health is rife with challenges and obstacles, but for wound care, we don’t think it has to be overly complex.
We need to improve access to care, regardless of geography
Simply put, there is not enough access to wound care in the U.S. Approximately 8.8 million Americans are impacted by chronic, non-healing wounds. There are not enough skilled clinicians to properly care for these patients. Where a patient lives has a significant impact on access to proper care.
Just look at a recent study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health which found that rural Americans with diabetic foot ulcers face a 50 percent increased risk of major amputation compared to their urban counterparts. The article blames poor connectivity between health systems and a lack of specialized care for the disparity.
There should be no relation to where you live and your ability to receive proper wound care. By improving access to care, we can positively impact the lives of millions in the U.S.
Bring wound care into the home
We’ve already referenced transportation as a major barrier to receiving wound care. In many cases, patients have to drive a significant distance to receive care. That is not sustainable for patients who lack consistent transportation or have financial constraints. Additionally, patients may have additional transportation challenges if they require a wheelchair, cane or walker. Traversing a medical facility can create a significant physical burden.
The first step to removing transportation as a barrier to care—bring wound care into the home. By eliminating the need to travel, patients are more likely to receive the care they need and for health plans to achieve the desired outcome. Specialized wound care in the home could eliminate the massive no-show rate at wound clinics.
Deliver consistent quality of wound care
Patients with wounds treated by home health and outpatient facilities experience a wide variety in clinician competence, including clinicians with no wound care certification or nurses who have no specialized wound experience. This lack of expertise and access to certified, wound care specialists creates inconsistent care, delivers sub-standard results including missed diagnoses and longer healing times.
We need to deliver consistent quality of wound care, regardless of where a patient receives care. By ensuring caregivers are wound certified, we can deliver better results for patients. Additionally, health plans can gain control over their budgets by better anticipating costs for wound care.
If we do these things right, we will better care for populations while delivering plan savings. Better access to wound care is possible. It just takes an innovative approach that delivers results outside of the pay-per-service model of healthcare. There is a different way. It’s the Esperta way.