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Need For Wound Care

Statistics show a great need for wound care centers. Each year approximately 5 million Americans will suffer from chronic wounds caused by diabetes, circulatory problems or many other conditions.

Other statistics include:

• 5 million people who suffer from chronic wounds have diabetic ulcers.
• 2.5 million people have pressure ulcers.
• 1 million people have venous stasis (circulatory) ulcers.
• 15% of all diabetics will develop chronic wounds.
• Patients with diabetes have a 15-fold increase in the risk of amputation and approximately 60,000 diabetics will undergo amputation each year.
• One-half of all diabetics have or will develop neuropathy, which can lead to injuries, sores, chronic infections, gangrene or amputations.

But there is HOPE. Studies have shown that wound care treatment facilities have reduced amputation rates significantly and reduced the length of hospital stays by 24 percent. The American Diabetes Association estimated that diabetes-related amputation could be reduced by 50 percent if patients were routinely tested for neuropathy, educated to prevent injury or complications, and provided related ancillary services.