title: Cost-effective non-surgical treatment of chronic pressure ulcers in the community.
abstract: The Salisbury Pressure Ulcer Outreach Service successfully treats patients with chronic pressure ulcers that have not healed during routine community treatment. These patients have grade 4 pressure ulcers, involving extensive destruction, or damage to muscle and bone. A combination of scientific, seating and tissue viability expertise with a holistic approach results in non-surgical healing for 70% of patients. For those who still require surgery, outcomes are more successful with this approach, resulting in low recurrence rates. Prior to creation of the outreach service, patients were referred directly for surgical closure, resulting in high recurrence levels and long waiting lists. The authors compared costs of the Pressure Ulcer Outreach Service with the previous system of surgical closure. The model base case found that the Pressure Ulcer Outreach Service saved £8588 per patient, and that cost savings could be even greater if the outreach service was extended into preventative work.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Scientist, Cedar, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pressure Ulcer Outreach Service, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cox-Martin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pressure Ulcer Outreach Service, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Director, Cedar, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carolan-Rees
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004739:England; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery; D017592:Skin Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D014850:Waiting Lists