title: Developing a multidisciplinary complex wound care service.
abstract: This article will describe the development of a dedicated multidisciplinary complex/chronic wound care service. Using a recognized framework, the article will demonstrate how the needs of patients were first assessed and then addressed. The article will conclude that although more research is required, the results of this audit suggest that patients with long-standing complex/chronic wounds benefit from the care of a dedicated multidisciplinary wound care team. For the purpose of this article the term 'complex' is defined as any wound which is not progressing as expected despite the application of good quality standard wound care.
authors.affiliation: Tissue Viability Department, The Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital Health and Social Services Trust, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D019468:Disease Management; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*