First of all, what really is evidence-based practice (EBP), and why is it fundamental to care delivery?
According to D.L. Sackett, a Harvard graduate and EBP pioneer, the most commonly cited definition of EBP is:
“The conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.”
Given that there are 6 million people in the US alone who suffer from chronic wounds, the need for established and tested wound treatment pathways or algorithms is extremely clear. Couple that with the exponential growth in literature associated with wound healing at the cellular, molecular and even genetic level, and clinicians are hard pressed to discern the most effective treatments. Often times, clinicians make decisions on wound treatments based on prior limited experience or even on the last wound supply rep that visited their office. This leads to poor outcomes and often times a higher cost. The use of these algorithms allows clinicians to deliver evidence-based care.
These treatment pathways are typically developed by organizations and academic institutions by multidisciplinary clinical teams from a systematic review and analysis of the available literature. Easily accessed, these serve as valuable resources for healthcare providers and their clinicians to choose optimal treatment plans for their wound patients.
As the US healthcare system transitions from volume to value, the use of evidence-based best treatments will be imperative for providers to be successful. Payers will insist on this level of care.
So, where do you find these wound management best practice treatments and algorithms? There are multiple sources. Here is a list of our top picks:
Corstrata’s treatment and supply recommendations are all evidence-based best practice. Our clinical team is made up of known and respected thought leaders in wound management. As such, they have a current and in-depth knowledge of these algorithms. Using Corstrata means you are using the latest and greatest - plus, there is no need to spend precious hours researching and keeping current with these algorithms. We do it for you. Contact us today!
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